"Brat Pack" director John Hughes dies of heart attack

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-07 09:35

"I am truly shocked and saddened by the news about my old friend John Hughes," Broderick said in a statement following the director's death. "He was a wonderful, very talented guy and my heart goes out to his family."

Hughes withdrew from Hollywood in the past decade, in part to maintain a farm in northern Illinois and to support independent arts, his spokesman said.

John Wilden Hughes, Jr., was born on February 18, 1950, in Michigan, and based himself in the Chicago suburbs throughout his career, where many of his films were based. He started out as an advertising copywriter before trying his hand at script writing.

He recalled that his early efforts were inspired by the teenage children of his older colleagues. One such youngster warmed to his idea for "Sixteen Candles" and encouraged him to write it, while her brother came up with the title of "The Breakfast Club."

Hughes is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, two sons, John and James, and four grandchildren.

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