Roger Corman, the icon of independent films and the “king of cult cinema”, has died at the age of 98. Corman was responsible for producing and directing numerous low-budget films and offered big breaks to many of the most important figures in the film industry, such as James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson. His family confirmed his passing at his home in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday 9 May, surrounded by loved ones.
Corman developed his own studios, New Concorde and New World Pictures during the 1960s and gave a platform to films of horror, action and science fiction. Dubbed the “Spiritual Godfather of the New Hollywood” and the “Pope of Pop Cinema,” he was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2009 for his contribution to “films and filmmakers.” Despite his low-budget offerings, his films were widely regarded as experimental and iconic, capturing the zeitgeist of the era.
Corman’s films were unorthodox and creative, and his place in the realm of independent cinema made him a maverick and trailblazer. He enjoyed intimate collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry over the years, including Jack Nicholson in “The Little Shop of Horrors” (1960), Martin Scorsese with “Boxcar Bertha” (1972), Ron Howard with “Grand Theft Auto” (1977) and James Cameron in “Battle Beyond the Stars” (1980).
Carpenter, a director and great friend of Corman’s, stated in his tribute to the “King of Cult Cinema”, “I’ll miss you, Roger,” while Ron Howard described Corman as a “great movie maker and mentor” who gave him his first shot at directing at the age of just 23. Quentin Tarantino also expressed his thanks, referring to the “movie lovers of planet Earth,” as Jonathan Demme offered his own tributes, stating that Corman provided “tremendous value at a really affordable price.” Corman is survived by his wife Julie, and his daughters Catherine and Mary
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