Film director James Foley dies at 71

(Web Desk): James Foley, the American director best known for films like Glengarry Glen Ross and the Fifty Shades sequels, has died at the age of 71.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, his representative confirmed that he passed away peacefully in his sleep earlier this week after a long struggle with brain cancer.

Foley had a wide-ranging career in film, television, and music videos. He began directing in 1984 with the romantic drama Reckless, starring Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah. However, the film was not well received and caused a falling out with screenwriter Chris Columbus, who later disowned the project.

Foley’s breakthrough came with At Close Range in 1986, a crime drama starring Sean Penn and Christopher Walken. That same year, he began working with pop star Madonna, who was married to Penn at the time. Foley directed some of her most iconic music videos, including Live to Tell, Papa Don’t Preach, and True Blue. He also directed Madonna in the 1987 comedy film Who’s That Girl.

In the 1990s, Foley directed a wide range of films, including the critically acclaimed Glengarry Glen Ross, based on a play by David Mamet. He also directed The Chamber, based on a John Grisham novel, and the thriller Fear, starring a young Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon.

In the 2000s and 2010s, Foley worked on both films and television. His credits include Confidence, Perfect Stranger, and episodes of House of Cards and Billions. He returned to big-budget cinema by directing the second and third Fifty Shades of Grey films.

In a 2003 interview, Foley humbly said, “If you cast the right actors, it’s amazing how little you have to do but stay out of the way.”