Canadian filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée, whose work includes Dallas Buyers Club and Big Little Lies, has passed away suddenly of a suspected heart attack at his cabin in Quebec City on Christmas Day. He was just 58 years old.
“Jean-Marc stood for creativity, authenticity and trying things differently,” reads a statement from Vallée’s producing partner Nathan Ross. “He was a true artist and a generous, loving guy. Everyone who worked with him couldn’t help but see the talent and vision he possessed. He was a friend, creative partner and an older brother to me. The maestro will sorely be missed but it comforts knowing his beautiful style and impactful work he shared with the world will live on.”
Vallée started his career directing music videos in the 1980s and moved on to short films before making his feature debut in 1995 with the French-language thriller Black List. Following his acclaimed 2005 coming-of-age drama C.R.A.Z.Y., Vallée made his English language debut with The Young Victoria in 2009 before helming 2012’s Dallas Buyers Club, which was nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture, and won three.
The filmmaker followed Dallas Buyers Club by teaming with Reese Witherspoon for 2014’s Wild and Jake Gyllenhaal for 2015’s Demolition, the latter of which would prove to be his final feature. He did however enjoy further success on the small screen, reuniting with Reese Witherspoon as director and producer on the first season of HBO’s Big Little Lies, winning Primetime Emmy’s for Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Limited Series as well as a DGA Award. He followed this up with another acclaimed HBO series, Sharp Objects, and had recently been developing the limited series Lady in the Lake for Apple TV+.
