Director John Hughes Dead at 59

Prolific film writer and director John Hughes, whose credits include the ’80s teen films “The Breakfast Club” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” died of a heart attack while walking in Manhattan on Thursday, his spokesman said. He was 59.

Hughes also made Macaulay Culkin a star, writing and producing the three “Home Alone” movies. His spokesman said Hughes was visiting friends and family in New York when he died.

In the last decade, Hughes had largely turned his back on Hollywood to run a farm in northern Illinois. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, two sons and four grandchildren.

The 59-year-old was taking a morning walk in New York when he went into cardiac arrest, according to Michelle Bega. He was in Manhattan visiting his family.

Hughes was famous for his countless hit movies in the 1980s including “Sixteen Candles,” “Home Alone” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” His films made such young stars as Molly Ringwald, Demi Moore and Andrew McCarthy household names in the 80s, with fans dubbing the group of actors “The Brat Pack.”

The Brat Pack

The Brat Pack was a defining part of the 80′s movie scene that included Molly Ringwald, Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Keifer Sutherland,  Ally Sheedy, Anthony Micheal Hall, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, Charlie Cheen, Judd Nelson, Sean Penn, Matthew Broderick, Ralph Macchio and many more.

80′s movie icons

Some of the movies that directed are the quin-essential What’s what of the 80′s – Weird Science, Ferris Bueller’s day off, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Uncle Buck, Home Alone, Trains and automobiles, She’s having a baby, Some kind of wonderful, The Great outdoors, Curly Sue and many more great movies.

Hughes was born in 1950 in Michigan and began his career in the field of advertising. At the time of his death, he lived in Illinois and set many of his films in the Chicago area. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, with whom he had two sons, John and James.

Rest in peace John – The 80′s would not have been the same without you!