‘GREAT LOSS’

Hugh Hudson, Director of Oscar-Winner ‘Chariots of Fire,’ Dies at 86

His death was mourned by “Chariots of Fire” star Nigel Havers, who said he “shall miss him greatly.”

Hugh Hudson, director of the 1981 Oscar winner for best picture, Chariots of Fire, has died at 86 after a brief illness. Nigel Havers, star of the acclaimed film based on the experiences of two British runners in the lead-up to 1924 Olympics, mourned Hudson’s death, saying, “Chariots of Fire was one of the greatest experiences of my professional life, and, like so many others, I owe much of what followed to him. … I shall miss him greatly.” Users on social media joined Havers, calling Hudson’s death a “great loss” and celebrating the iconic Chariots of Fire as “one of the greatest of all British films.” A graduate of the prestigious Eton College, Hudson began his career making advertisements and editing documentaries, and directed a series of other films including Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, and Lost Angels.