Acclaimed Filmmaker/Director Joel Schumacher (“St. Elmo’s Fire,” “Lost Boys,” “Batman”) Dies at 80

Rock Cellar Magazine Staffon June 22, 2020Categories:Latest News
Rock Cellar Magazine

Joel Schumacher, acclaimed filmmaker and director with a number of iconic movies on his resume, has passed away at the age of 80 after a battle with cancer, it was reported on Monday.

Schumacher rose to prominence as a director with a trio of big movies beginning in the mid-1980s: 1985’s St. Elmo’s Fire, 1987’s The Lost Boys and 1990’s Flatliners, later scoring more hits in the ’90s with Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997), among other titles.

Among the noteworthy ’90s entries from Schumacher was 1993’s Falling Down, an edgy drama starring Michael Douglas.

Kiefer Sutherland, one of the breakout stars from The Lost Boys, shared his condolences on social media:

Per Variety‘s detailed look back at Schumacher’s career:

Schumacher started out in showbiz as a costume designer, earning credits on 1972’s “Play It as It Lays,” Herbert Ross’ “The Last of Sheila” (1973), Paul Mazursky’s “Blume in Love (1973), Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” (1973) and “Interiors” (1978) and 1975 Neil Simon adaptation “The Prisoner of Second Avenue.” He was also credited as the production designer on the 1974 TV horror film “Killer Bees.”

He also started to write screenplays, including 1976’s “Sparkle,” 1978 hit “Car Wash” and the adaptation for 1978 musical “The Wiz.”

Schumacher’s first directing assignments came in television: the 1974 telepic “Virginia Hill,” which he also co-wrote and starred Dyan Cannon, and the 1979 telepic “Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill,” which he also penned. He stepped into the feature arena with the 1981 sci-fi comedy “The Incredible Shrinking Woman,” starring Lily Tomlin, followed in 1983 by “D.C. Cab,” an action-comedy vehicle for Mr. T that Schumacher also wrote.

Born in New York City, he studied at Parsons the New School for Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. He worked in the fashion industry, but decided to instead pursue a career in filmmaking. After moving to Los Angeles, he applied his fashion background to working first as a costume designer and worked in TV while earning an MFA from UCLA.

batmanfalling downjoel schumacherst. elmo's fire
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