"Scream" director Wes Craven dies at 76

Filmmaker Wes Craven died at 76 on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles, a representative confirmed to WCBS. The director was battling brain cancer.

Craven, who was a screenwriter, director and editor, was considered the king of teen horror movies after the release of his monster 1984 hit "A Nightmare on Elm Street" -- the movie that made Johnny Depp a star.

Craven was also responsible for one of the most successful slasher series of the 1990s and 2000s when he made the 1996 movie "Scream."

Craven also stepped out of the horror genre occasionally, such as with the film "Music of the Heart," which featured Meryl Streep as a music teacher in a struggling, low-income school. Streep was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the film.

Craven is survived by his wife, producer Iya Labunka, a son, a daughter and a stepdaughter, reports AP.