RIP Chuck Russell, ‘The Mask’ and ‘Nightmare on Elm Street 3’ Director

Chuck Russell, a film director known for ’80s and ]90s movies like Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and The Blob, died earlier this week at 74 years old. Per TMZ, his death was “unexpected,” and a cause has yet to be determined. His family is said to be currently en route to California to learn more. Born May 9, 1952, Russell entered the industry doing indie work as a production manager and assistant director. He wrote screenplays in his off time and eventually met writer (and future collaborator) Frank Darabont. Russell’s first produced screenplay was 1984’s Dreamscape, the second-ever movie to get a PG-13 rating. The aforementioned Dream Warriors was his directorial debut, which was such a hit back then that it revitalized the franchise. After his 1988 remake of The Blob, Russell’s profile shot up with an adaptation of The Mask comics in 1994. Known for strong visual effects with a limited budget, his approach with Mask was working with ILM to combine Jim Carrey’s live-action performance with then-new digital effects. They were so impressive that the film earned an Oscar nomination for “Best VFX,” which was a bonus on top of the film’s $350 million global box office. He went on to direct The Scorpion King and Eraser, not directing again until an episode of Fringe in 2010. From that point on, his output consisted of a handful of action-thriller movies (Paradise City, Junglee) throughout the 2010s and early 2020s. His final film was a 2024 remake of the 1986 horror movie Witchboard, which he wrote and directed. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.