Entertainment · Film · 2 hrs ago
Director Peter Medak, Known for ‘The Changeling,’ Dies at 88
Peter Medak died in Los Angeles at 88 on Tuesday, his family announced.
The Hungarian-born director made 27 feature films over a career spanning six decades.
He fled Hungary for England during the 1956 uprising against the country’s Communist regime and began working in the British film industry.
His films ranged from the 1972 satire “The Ruling Class” to the British gangster drama “The Krays.”
His 1980 horror film “The Changeling” won eight Genie Awards, including best motion picture.
Medak also directed episodes of television shows including “The Wire,” “Breaking Bad” and “House.”
His four children and five grandchildren survive him.
Director Peter Medak, known for The Changeling and The Krays, died Tuesday in Los Angeles at 88.
The Hungarian-born filmmaker directed 27 feature films over a career spanning six decades.
His 1980 supernatural thriller The Changeling, starring George C. Scott, won eight Genie Awards, including best motion picture.
Medak also directed The Ruling Class and The Krays, and worked extensively in television.
- Who
- Peter Medak, a Hungarian-born director and actor, died at 88.
- What
- The director of The Changeling and The Krays died. The cause of death was not stated.
- When
- Tuesday. The articles were published on October 28, 2026.
- Where
- Los Angeles.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Medak was born in Budapest, Hungary.
He fled to England during the Hungarian Revolution.
He made his feature directorial debut with Negatives.
Medak died in Los Angeles at 88.
- Age at death
- 88
- Place of death
- Los Angeles
- Feature films directed
- 27
- The Changeling
- 1980 supernatural thriller; won eight Genie Awards
- The Krays
- 1990 British gangster drama
- Career span
- Six decades
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What people are saying
It’s lovely to have that, to be on their lists of the greatest ghost stories of all times.
Oh, it was probably the biggest nightmare of my life.