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Oscar nominated British director Peter Yates who helmed sixties hits like Bullitt and Summer Holiday has died. He was 81.
The four-time Oscar nominee who had a career spanning five decades died in London on Sunday following an unspecified illness said his agent Judy Daish, reported Daily Mail online. After a brief stint as an actor, he began his directorial career in 1963 with Summer Holiday, which famously saw Cliff Richard taking a London double decker bus round Europe.
The four-time Oscar nominee who had a career spanningfive decades died in London on Sunday following an unspecifiedillness said his agent Judy Daish, reported Daily Mail online.After a brief stint as an actor, he began hisdirectorial career in 1963 with Summer Holiday, whichfamously saw Cliff Richard taking a London double decker busround Europe.
Yates then moved into TV and helmed several episodesof The Saint and Danger Man, before making Robbery, a filminspired by the Great Train Robbery, in 1967.
This led to Hollywood, and his first American film,the cop thriller Bullitt, was released the following year.Starring Steve McQueen, it told the story of a SanFranciscan cop who is determined to track down the Mafia bosswho put a hit on a witness under his protection.
It was best remembered for its high-octane car chase,which is regarded by critics as one of the finest ever put onfilm, and which many credit as setting the standard for futurecar chase sequences in Hollywood films.
Later on in his career Yates picked up four Oscarnominations.
He was shortlisted as Best Director and producer forthe 1979 coming-of-age drama Breaking Away, and alsoreceived the same nominations for 1983's The Dresser, anadaptation of the successful stage play starring Albert Finneyand Tom Courtenay.
Yates' other films included Seventies blockbuster TheDeep, fantasy film Krull, Suspect starring Cher andDennis Quaid and the Tom Selleck thriller, An Innocent Man.His final film, the made for TV movie A SeparatePeace, was made in 2004.
Yates is survived by his wife Virginia Pope, a son anda daughter. A small private funeral is planned, followed by amemorial service.
