‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ director Norman Jewison dies

Canadian Oscar-winning director Norman Jewison has died at the age of 97, reports NBC News citing publicist Jeff Sanderson. Mr Jewison “passed away peacefully” on January 20, he said. He did not provide other details.

Norman Jewison was born on July 21, 1926 in Toronto. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1944-1945. At the beginning of his directing career, he worked on television, directing musicals and TV shows. The director’s first feature film was the comedy Forty Pounds of Trouble (1962).

The first film that brought Mr. Jewison wide fame was the drama “The Cincinnati Kid” (1965). Filmed by the director in 1966, the comedy “The Russians are Coming!” Russians are coming!” was nominated for an Oscar in four categories, including best film of the year. In 1967, the crime drama Midnight Heat was released. For her, Mr. Jewison was awarded his first Oscar nomination as best director. The film received five Oscar awards, including best film of the year.

The next time Mr. Jewison was nominated for an Oscar for directing was for the film adaptation of the musical of the same name, “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971). The film received three Oscar awards. In 1973, the director directed another film adaptation of the Broadway musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Mr. Jewison was nominated for a third Academy Award for Best Director for Moonstruck (1987).

During his career, the director was awarded nominations and awards for the Golden Globe, BAFTA, Silver Bear, and Directors Guild of America awards for best director. In addition, Mr. Jewison received stars on the Hollywood and Canadian Walks of Fame. In 2001, a park in downtown Toronto was named after him. In 2003, Jewison received the Governor General’s Award for the Performing Arts for his lifetime artistic achievement and contributions to Canadian cinema.

Erdni Kagaltynov