'80s Teen Flick Director John Hughes Dies

(AP)  Writer-director John Hughes, Hollywood's youth impresario of the 1980s and '90s who captured and cornered the teen and pre-teen market with such favorites as "Home Alone," "The Breakfast Club" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," died Thursday, a spokeswoman said. He was 59.

Hughes died of a heart attack during a morning walk in Manhattan, Michelle Bega said. He was in New York to visit family.

A native of Lansing, Mich., who later moved to suburban Chicago and set much of his work there, Hughes rose from ad writer to comedy writer to silver screen champ with his affectionate and idealized portraits of teens, whether the romantic and sexual insecurity of "Sixteen Candles," or the J.D. Salinger-esque rebellion against conformity in "The Breakfast Club."

Hughes' ensemble comedies helped make stars out of Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy and many other young performers. He also scripted the phenomenally popular "Home Alone," which made little-known Macaulay Culkin a sensation as the 8-year-old accidentally abandoned by his vacationing family, and wrote or directed such hits as "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Pretty in Pink," "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" and "Uncle Buck."

Other actors who got early breaks from Hughes included John Cusack ("Sixteen Candles"), Judd Nelson ("The Breakfast Club"), Steve Carrell ("Curly Sue") and Lili Taylor ("She's Having a Baby").

As Hughes advanced into middle age, his commercial touch faded and, in Salinger style, he increasingly withdrew from public life. His last directing credit was in 1991, for "Curly Sue," and he wrote just a handful of scripts over the past decade. He was rarely interviewed or photographed.

[AttentionDeficit]

RIP John Hughes. I enjoyed the your art

[book_of_wally]

America seems to have an epidemic of heart attacks recently. I had one last month but luckily was saved by a stent.

[avigil2]

OMG! This was actually funny.

[micheleisfree]

Rest in peace, John.
I'll always love Breakfast Club.

[rondivoo]

A great talent!

[pubsrtoast]

Planes, trains and automobiles will always be one of my favorites. The vacation series was pretty good too.

[jt92202]

Went to Chicago in 1999, we drove a Chysler LaBaron Woody Wagon with luggage rack and all, from WA state. At 2:00 in the morning when we were on our way to our hotel room we were sitting at a stop light inh East Chicago and the car next to us looked over and used hand signals to roll the window down. A couple of young girls probably in their late teens or early 20's Asked us:

HOW DO YOU GET TO WALLY WORLD! We were all laughing so hard we didn't see the light turn green.

This mans movies are classics, sorry he left us but he brought us many laughs and they will continue with the next generation.

[crowtrob]

as much as i appreciate the attempt, there is a flaw or two in your reference. i think ou meant east st. louis, where the griswolds accidentally showed up and clark said "roll 'em up" after hearing the gun shot. also, east chicago usually goes by another name. it's called lake michigan.

again, not being a jerk, just correcting.

rip john hughes

[zonkzilla]

He directed some of my favorite movies.
But we all have to go sometime so, yawn not my problem.

[pozjetsfan]

Since when is anyone dying "your" problem? Loser.

[avigil2]

You're an as-s.

[ubrew12]

Some writers/directors for the silver screen will, like great novelists and fine wines, remain popular for many decades. For 'Breakfast Club' and 'Ferris Bueller' alone, Hughes will remain in that category.

[ianlou]

National Lampoon's Vacation is my favorite.