British filmmaker Alan Parker dies at 76

British director Alan Parker died on Friday 31 July in London at age 76 after a long illness, his family announced. Born in Islington, London, in 1944, Parker began his career in advertising like Ridley Scott, bringing a direct, no-frills style to his films. His cult classic Midnight Express (1978), written by Oliver Stone, won two Oscars including Best Original Score for Giorgio Moroder's instrumental track 'Chase'. Fame (1980) followed students at New York's High School of Performing Arts, launching Irene Cara's Oscar-winning title song. Pink Floyd The Wall (1982) adapted the band's concept album with animated sequences by Gerald Scarfe. Birdy (1984) featured a score by Peter Gabriel. The Commitments (1991), based on Roddy Doyle's novel, focused on Dublin youths forming a soul band. Evita (1996) starred Madonna as Eva Perón in the musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Parker's last film was The Life of David Gale (2003), a death penalty drama with Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet.