Michael Anderson Dies: Oscar-Nominated Film Director Was 98

Michael Anderson Dies: Oscar-Nominated Film Director Was 98

Director Michael Anderson, who was Oscar-nominated for his role in the epic film Around The World in 80 Days and later was behind the cameras for the sci-fi classic Logan’s Run, has died. He was 98 and passed away Wednesday in Vancouver of unspecified causes.

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Anderson had a long film career, directing such war movies as The Dam Busters, The Yangtse Incident, Operation Crossbow, and also such staples as The Wreck of the Mary Deare, The Quiller Memorandum, Chase a Crooked Shadow, and The Shoes of the Fisherman.

But the defining film of his career was Around the World In 80 Days, a three-hour film based on the Jules Verne adventure novel. The film was as much about logistics as it was the narrative, setting records for camera set-ups, sets, costumes, participants and locations.

The storyline has Phileas Fogg (David Niven) and his valet, Passepartout (Cantinflas), as they try to win a £20,000 bet by circling the globe in record time. It was a star-show of the first order in tht era, featuring cameos from Shirley MacLaine, Frank Sinatra, John Gielgud, Edward R. Murrow, Noel Coward, Charles Boyer, Ronald Colman, Robert Newton, Marlene Dietrich, Buster Keaton, Victor McLaglen and Red Skelton.

The film was named Best Picture and won a total of five Academy Awards. Anderson lost the Best Director nod to George Stevens, who helmed Giant.

Anderson’s His stepdaughter, Laurie Holden, has appeared as recurring characters on such TV series as The X-, The Shield and The Walking Dead.

Anderson is survived by his third wife, actress Adrienne Ellis, and a daughter, Laurie Holden, who has appeared on TV shows The X-Files, The Shield and The Walking Dead.