Famous Director Richard Sarafian died Wednesday night at age 83 in Southern California.
Sarafian was best known for his film Vantage Point, a story about an auto pursuit through the Nevada desert involving a Vietnam veteran and his drug dealer.
The Associated Press reports that Sarafian died at a Santa Monica hospital on Wednesday after suffering from pneumonia. He contracted it while recovering from a fall.
"I had absolutely no idea that this thing would survive all these years," Sarafian said about the 1971 hit film.
Sarafian directed numerous films as well as television shows including Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, and Batman. He also made acting appearances in Bulworth and Bugsy.
Sarafian was born April 28, 1930 in New York City and attended New York University.
The LA Times reports that Sarafian left behind 5 children, sons Deren, Damon, Richard Jr., Tedi, and his daughter Catherine, all of whom work in the film industry.
Sarafian was an iconic influence on film and was remembered by directors like Quentin Tarantino.
Photo Courtesy ofWikipedia
