Jonathan Demme, Oscar-winning director of The Silence of the Lambs, dies

Jonathan Demme, the Oscar-winning director of The Silence of the Lambs, passed away on 26 April 2017. He was 73.

The cause of Demme's death is said to be esophegal cancer.

About Jonathan Demme

• Born on 22 February 1944, Robert Jonathan Demme was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter.

• He started his career into feature film working with film producer Roger Corman, co-writing and producing Angels Hard as They Come and The Hot Box.

• He then moved on to directing three films for Corman's studio New World Pictures.

• In 1977, he directed the comedy film Handle with Care for Paramount Pictures. The film was well received by critics.

• He rose to prominence in the 1980s with his comedy films Melvin and Howard, Swing Shift, Something Wild.

• He is best known for directing the movie The Silence of the Lambs, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Director. It was one of only three films to win all the major categories, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress.

• He later directed the acclaimed films Philadelphia and Rachel Getting Married.