Still Alice writer-director Richard Glatzer passed away on Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. His death came after a nearly four-year battle with ALS. He was 63.
Glatzer was diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease in 2011, according to THR.
His husband and writing partner, Wash Westmoreland, released a statement on Tuesday following Glatzer's death. "I am devastated. Rich was my soulmate, my collaborator, my best friend, and my life. Seeing him battle ALS for four years with such grace and courage inspired me and all who knew him."
Glatzer was suffering respiratory problems and taken to an L.A. hospital a couple of days before the Academy Awards. Julianne Moore took home the Best Actress award for her role in Still Alice.
In her Oscar acceptance speech, Moore thanked Glatzer and Westmoreland, talking about how much of an inspiration they were. "When Richard was diagnosed with ALS, Wash asked him what he wanted to do. Did he want to travel? Did he want to see the world? And he said that he wanted to make movies, and that’s what he did.”
On Tuesday, the actress took to Twitter to remember the late director. After sharing his obituary from The New York Times, she simply wrote, "i love you richard."
Glatzer and Westmoreland worked together on four films. Glatzer also worked in television, and was a producer on America's Next Top Model for several years. He is also survived by his daughter, Ruby Smith.
"In this dark time, I take some consolation in the fact that he got to see Still Alice go out into the world," Westmoreland continued in the statement. "He put his heart and soul into that film, and the fact that it touched so many people was a constant joy to him."(The Hollywood Reporter)
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