James Foley, who directed films such as Glengarry Glen Ross and Television starring John Ritter, died at 71. He passed away peacefully in his sleep this week at his Los Angeles home. Foley’s long career producing and directing shows and series—from the stage to the silver screen—entertained and inspired audiences for decades.
Foley was raised in a Catholic family and born in 1953. He found his fame in the 1980s with his popular film “Reckless” which released in 1984 and featured actors Daryl Hannah and Aidan Quinn. This early success opened the doors for Foley’s upcoming adventure in film and television.
His acclaimed work with pop icon Madonna showed that Foley was far from a one-trick pony as a director. He directed the film “Who’s That Girl,” which starred Madonna as a woman wrongfully convicted of killing her boyfriend. In addition to directing the film, Foley used the pseudonym Peter Percher to helm three of Madonna’s music videos in 1986: “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Live to Tell,” and “True Blue.”
Later in his career, Foley took on a different challenge. Most recently, he directed the sequels for Universal’s hit film series, “Fifty Shades of Grey.” He went on to direct the second and third installments, “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed.” That role became a launching pad for his place in today’s cinema.
Foley’s television work is equally impressive. He has directed 12 episodes of the hit, critically lauded series “House of Cards.” This suspenseful drama series pulled back the curtain on the sordid machinations of American politics. His masterful directorial touch was evident on episodes of other hit series like “Twin Peaks,” “Billions,” and “Hannibal.”
During his lifetime, Foley was often lauded for his skill at building tension and anxiety on camera. His cinematic contributions go way beyond romantic tear-jerkers, with important titles such as “Glengarry Glen Ross,” “Fear” and “Confidence” rounding out his film legacy.
Though an accomplished architect and educator, he was lost after a multi-year battle with brain cancer.
“He died peacefully in his sleep earlier this week,” – spokesman for James Foley
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