Sir Alan Parker, who was responsible for a string of hit movies including Fame, Evita, Bugsy Malone and Angel Heart, has passed away at the age of 76, reports the BBC.

The highly-acclaimed film director, twice nominated for the best director Oscar, died on Friday, following a lengthy illness. He is survived by wife Lisa Moran-Parker, five children and seven grandchildren.

In a career spanning four decades, Parker directed a host of critically-acclaimed blockbusters, including Angela’s Ashes, Mississippi Burning, The Commitments and Midnight Express. His last directing credit was in 2003 for movie The Life of David Gale, starring Kate Winslet and Kevin Spacey.

Tributes flooded in for Parker after the news broke on Friday evening (UK time), with fans of his work, as well as former colleagues and industry members, paying tribute to his brilliance online.

The British Film Institute – of which Parker was formerly chair – wrote on Twitter: “We’re deeply saddened to learn that British filmmaker Alan Parker passed away this morning. Also a former Chairman of the BFI, his works as director include Midnight Express, The Commitments and Angela’s Ashes.”

While composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who worked alongside Parker on 1996’s Evita, said: “Very sad to hear the news of Alan Parker’s death. My friend and collaborator on the Evita movie and one of the few directors to truly understand musicals on screen.”

And the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of BAFTA Fellow Alan Parker. As BAFTA-winning filmmaker, he brought us joy with Bugsy Malone, The Commitments, Midnight Express and many more.”

Parker’s career began as a copywriter, before he graduated to writing and directing commercials, and then of course movies. In 1974 he won his first-ever Bafta for his film The Evacuees. And while he never bagged an Academy Award for his directing talents, his movies claimed an impressive total of 10 Oscars and 10 Golden Globes.