John HughesJohn Hughes, the director who defined '80s teen comedies and inspired a generation of filmmakers and moviegoers, died of a heart attack while visiting family in New York City. He was 59 years old.

During Hughes' heyday in the '80s, nearly every movie he directed was an immediate hit. And rightly so, for he had the golden touch: His characters were always dead on, from awkward prepubescent girls (usually played by Molly Ringwald) to awkward nerds (usually played by Anthony Michael Hall) to insolent rebels (hello, Judd Nelson).

His movies had simple themes, yet tapped perfectly into the river of teen angst, whether they were about transcending high school cliques ('The Breakfast Club'), ditching school with your friends ('Ferris Bueller's Day Off') or having a crush on the most impossibly popular boy in school ('Sixteen Candles'). John HughesJohn Hughes, the director who defined '80s teen comedies and inspired a generation of filmmakers and moviegoers, died of a heart attack while visiting family in New York City. He was 59 years old.

During Hughes' heyday in the '80s, nearly every movie he directed was an immediate hit. And rightly so, for he had the golden touch: His characters were always dead on, from awkward prepubescent girls (usually played by Molly Ringwald) to awkward nerds (usually played by Anthony Michael Hall) to insolent rebels (hello, Judd Nelson).

His movies had simple themes, yet tapped perfectly into the river of teen angst, whether they were about transcending high school cliques ('The Breakfast Club'), ditching school with your friends ('Ferris Bueller's Day Off') or having a crush on the most impossibly popular boy in school ('Sixteen Candles').

Toward the end of the '80s, Hughes turned away from teen comedies but continued to direct successful films such as 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' and 'She's Having a Baby.' After directing 1991's 'Curly Sue,' however, he concentrated instead on writing broader comedies such as the 'Beethoven' and 'Home Alone' movies. In the last decade he had disappeared almost completely from the public eye, retiring to Wisconsin and rarely giving interviews or being photographed.

But his movies remain. What's your favorite John Hughes movie, line or moment? Let us know in the comments section below.





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John Hughes Photos
See photos of the legendary -- and reclusive -- '80s teen comedy director, who died at the age of 59.
Everett Collection
Everett Collection

John Hughes Photos

    John Hughes (producer), son James Hughes (writer), Kyle Cooper (director) on the set of New Port South.

    Everett Collection

    Filmmaker John Hughes was responsible for some of the most defining movies of the '80s as the writer/director of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' 'Breakfast Club' and more.

    Everett Collection

    Director John Hughes on the set of 'Weird Science' in 1985.

    Everett Collection

    Director John Hughes with Mark Schoeffling and Molly Ringwald, the stars of his film 'Sixteen Candles.'

    Everett Collection

    Jon Cryer, Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald - stars of Hughes' film 'Pretty in Pink.'

    Everett Collection

    John Hughes wrote and directed 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' starring Matthew Broderick in 1986.

    Everett Collection

    'Breakfast Club' starring Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall in 1985.

    Everett Collection