Director Jamie Blanks dies
Jamie Blanks, director of cult horror titles Urban Legend and Valentine, died at age 54, industry outlets reported on March 20 ( ).
Blanks’ family posted a statement on X saying he “passed away suddenly at his home in Melbourne, Australia, on Monday 16 March,” and confirming he was 54 at the time of his death. (deadline.com) The family added that his death was “unexpected, despite some ill health in recent years,” and that it occurred “at a time when Jamie was preparing to direct another film,” while he remained “very active supporting other film‑makers and developing his own projects.” (deadline.com) Blanks made his feature‑directing breakthrough with Urban Legend (1998) and followed with Valentine (2001); his later credits include Storm Warning (2007) and the 2008 remake Long Weekend. (en.wikipedia.org) Urban Legend was filmed on a $14 million budget and grossed roughly $72.5 million worldwide during its run, with a North American take of about $38.1 million. (boxofficemojo.com) Valentine had a production budget near $29 million and collected about $36.7 million worldwide, and its ensemble cast included Denise Richards, David Boreanaz, Marley Shelton and Katherine Heigl. (en.wikipedia.org) The family’s social media post carried the dates “29/11/1971 – 16/03/2026” and was shared from his official X account; news outlets published the text and image alongside tributes from peers. (deadline.com) Deadline reports Blanks is survived by his wife, Simone, his son, Oliver, and his parents and brothers. (deadline.com)
