British director John Guillermin known for Towering Inferno and King Kong has died aged 89

By Kate Thomas for MailOnline

Published: 02:36 EST, 1 October 2015 | Updated: 04:13 EST, 1 October 2015

British director John Guillermin has died aged 89.

The filmmaker, best known for The Towering Inferno and the 1976 version of King Kong, passed away after a heart attack on Sunday at his home in the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles.

His friend Nick Redman of Twilight Time Movies confirmed the news on Facebook, and his wife Mary also shared a tribute to her late husband.

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Sad passing: British director John Guillermin passed away aged 89 on Sunday at his home in the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles

Sad passing: British director John Guillermin passed away aged 89 on Sunday at his home in the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles

Guillermin's wife of 16 years called her late husband 'sensitive and passionate, full of a fierce rapture himself'.

She told The Hollywood Reporter that the family would honour his memory with a screening of Rapture (1965), his 'his best and least-known film'.

He was famed for helming the classic King Kong film that launched Jessica Lange's career and The Towering Inferno, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Iconic film: Guillermin is known for directing Jessica Lange in the 1976 version of King Kong

Iconic film: Guillermin is known for directing Jessica Lange in the 1976 version of King Kong

Illustrious career: He is also celebrated for helming The Blue Max (pictured) and  Death On The Nile

Illustrious career: He is also celebrated for helming The Blue Max (pictured) and  Death On The Nile

The 1974 disaster movie earned Oscars for best original song, film editing and cinematography, as well as Golden Globes for its stars Fred Astaire and Susan Flannery.

Beginning his career in the late 1960s, Guillermin's long list of credits including The Blue Max and Shaft in Africa. His last film was 1986 sequel, King Kong Lives.

He also helmed 1978 Agatha Christie whodunit Death On The Nile, which won an Evening Standard British Film Award.

Critically acclaimed: The Towering Inferno earned Oscars for best original song, film editing and cinematography, as well as a nomination for best picture

Critically acclaimed: The Towering Inferno earned Oscars for best original song, film editing and cinematography, as well as a nomination for best picture

Guillermin was born in London to French parents and attended Cambridge University. He also served as a pilot during World War II.

The film visionary was notorious for his fiery temper and passion, leading actor Charles Heston to describe him as an 'imaginative and skillful director', while producer David L. Wolper wrote that Guillermin was 'the most difficult director with whom I'd ever worked'.

He was married to actress Maureen Connell for 40 years - with whom he had children Michelle and Michael-John, who tragically died in a car accident aged just 21 - before he wed second wife Mary. 

Touching tribute: His wife of 16 years, Mary, called her late husband 'sensitive and passionate, full of a fierce rapture himself'

Touching tribute: His wife of 16 years, Mary, called her late husband 'sensitive and passionate, full of a fierce rapture himself'

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