Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw, “Love Story” (1970) Photo Courtesy Paramount Pictures / The Hollywood Archive
Oscar-nominated director of Love Story, and former Academy president, Arthur Hiller died today in Los Angeles of natural causes. The Academy confirmed the news.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved friend Arthur Hiller,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “I was a member of the Board during his presidency and fortunate enough to witness firsthand his dedication to the Academy and his lifelong passion for visual storytelling. Our condolences go out to his loved ones.”
The Canadian-born Hiller’s career spanned five decades, starting in Television in the mid-’50s with many credits to his name including Playhouse 90, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Route 66, Thriller, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Naked City and The Rifleman. Hiller directed his first film, The Careless Years in 1957, the story of young couple eloping. This was followed by This Rugged Land (1962), originally made for television but then released as a film, and then Miracle of the White Stallions (1963), a Disney film. With these first films, Hiller gained experience and competance Turning to feature films in the early 1960s, his early credits include The Americanization of Emily , his own personal favorite, and the Ryan O’Neal-Ali MacGraw tear-jerker, Love Story, which earned him the Oscar nomination.
Love Story received seven Oscar nominations overall and led to a streak of big films for Hiller including The Hospital, Silver Streak with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, The In-Laws with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin; The Lonely Guy with Steve Martin, and Outrageous Fortune starring Shelley Long and Bette Midler.
Hiller served as Academy president from 1993-97 and received the organization’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2001 for his philanthropy. He also served as DGA president from 1989-93.
Hiller is survived by his daughter, Erica Hiller Carpenter, his son, Henryk, and five grandchildren. Gwen Hiller, his wife of 68 years, passed away in June.