Director Michael Apted has died aged 79, his agent confirmed on Friday.
The British filmmaker was known for the Up series of documentaries which followed the lives of 14 children since 1964, as well as directing Coal Miner's Daughter, Gorillas In The Mist and the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, which starred Pierce Brosnan.
Thomas Schlamme, the president of the Directors Guild of America, paid tribute to him in a statement.
"Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the passing of esteemed director, longtime DGA leader and my friend Michael Apted.
"His legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of cinema and our Guild.
"A fearless visionary as a director and unparalleled guild leader, Michael saw the trajectory of things when others didn't and we were all beneficiaries of his wisdom and lifelong dedication."