John Hughes seen in 1984, is the man who wrote "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Mr. Mom" and "National Lampoon's European Vacation." He also wrote and directed "Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club," and "Weird Science." Hughes who was 59, died of a heart attack while walking in New York on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009.
In his directoral debut, John Hughes made a teen star of Molly Ringwald with 1984's "Sixteen Candles" - a film about a girl's nightmarish birthday on the eve of her sister's wedding. A year later, Ringwald starred in Hughes' "The Breakfast Club," and later, "Pretty in Pink." His ensemble comedies helped make stars of Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy and many other young performers.
Cast members from "The Breakfast Club" from left, Anthony Michael Hall, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, and Paul Gleason pose backstage after receiving the Silver Bucket of Excellence Award at the MTV Movie Awards on June 4, 2005, in Los Angeles. The 1985 film about five high school students who meet in detention also starred Emilio Estevez and Judd Nelson.
John Hughes scripted the mega hit "Home Alone" which, in 1990, made little-known Macaulay Culkin a sensation as the 8-year-old accidentally abandoned by his vacationing family. "I was a fan of both his work and a fan of him as a person," Culkin said. "The world has lost not only a quintessential filmmaker whose influence will be felt for generations, but a great and decent man."
Actor Matthew Broderick worked with director John Hughes in 1986, when he played the title character in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." "I am truly shocked and saddened by the news about my old friend John Hughes. He was a wonderful, very talented guy and my heart goes out to his family," Broderick said on Aug. 6, 2009.
Steve Martin played lead character Neal Page in the 1987 hit "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," which Hughes directed. "John Hughes was a great director, but his gift was in screenwriting," Martin said. "He created deep and complex characters, rich in humanity and humor."
A native of Lansing, Mich., who later moved to suburban Chicago and set much of his work there, John Hughes rose from ad writer to comedy writer to silver screen champ. He wrote or directed such hits as "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" and "Uncle Buck." The last film he directed was "Curly Sue" in 1991.