'Death Wish' director Michael Winner died

The British director best known for his thriller movies Death Wish died at the age of 77 on Monday.

According to E!, his wife, Geraldine, confirmed to the media that the actor died in their London home due to illness.

Winner had been ill for a while with a heart and liver problem, and revealed in summer 2011 that he only had 18 months to live.

The director was born in London in 1935, and had experienced the media world by journalism at the age of 14.

He used to write a newspaper column called, "Michael Winner's Showbiz Gossip," and "Winner's World."

Winner began his career off-screen as an assistant director for BBC television programs, cinema shorts, and few productions.

According to The New York Times, Winner's movies had been largely pleasing the audience.

He directed many major starts in more than 30 movies over the period of four decades.

Other than directing the first three movies of Death Wish, he directed Marlon Brando in The Nightcomers, and Orson Welles in a comedy I'll Never Forget Whats'isname.