His last movie was Breaking and Entering in 2006, also for the Weinstein Co. His other movie credits include Cold Mountain, The Talented Mr Ripley, Mr Wonderful and Truly Madly Deeply.
He recently stepped down as chair of the British Film Institute after serving 4 years in the role.
He was a partner with Sydney Pollack in Mirage Enterprises, and served as producer on Mirage pics, including The Interpreter, Catch a Fire and The Reader.
Jude Law, who starred in The Talented Mr Ripley, Cold Mountain and Breaking and Entering, said, I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Anthonys untimely death. I worked with him on three films, more than with any other director, but had come to value him more as a friend than as a colleague. He was a brilliantly talented writer and director who wrote dialogue that was a joy to speak and then put in onto the screen in a way that always looked effortless. He made work feel like fun. He was a sweet, warm, bright and funny man who was interested in everything from football to opera, films, music, literature, people and most of all his family, whom he adored and to whom I send my thoughts and love. I shall miss him hugely.
Minghella was born Jan. 6, 1954 on the Isle of Wight, where his Italian parents ran a successful ice-cream business. He became a lecturer at Hull University, and started carving a reputation as a writer for the stage, radio and TV. He penned episodes of detective drama Inspector Morse and high school series Grange Hill, and created the Jim Henson miniseries The Storyteller: Greek Myths.
Truly, Madly, Deeply, his directorial debut from his own script, won him a BAFTA for best original screenplay. He won the best director Oscar for The English Patient in 1997, which also earned him an adapted screenplay nomination. He got another Oscar nomination in 2000 for the screenplay of The Talented Mr Ripley.
He made his only acting appearance as a TV interviewer in the final section of Joe Wrights Atonement.
His next movie was supposed to be The Ninth Life of Louis Drax for the Weinstein Co.
He also directed his first opera, Puccinis Madam Butterfly, at Londons English National Opera in 2005, later transferring to New Yorks Metropolitan Opera.
Minghellas status as a public figure in the U.K. was underlined by personal tributes from prime minister Gordon Brown and former PM Tony Blair, whom Minghella directed together in a 2005 election broadcast.
