Chuck Russell, Director of 'The Mask' and 'Nightmare on Elm Street 3,' Dies at 74

Director Chuck Russell, the filmmaker behind the 1994 blockbuster comedy "The Mask" and the 1987 horror sequel "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors," has died. He was 74.

Russell died unexpectedly on Wednesday at his home in the San Diego area, according to TMZ. Emergency services were called to his residence following a report of a medical emergency involving an unconscious male. His cause of death has not yet been released.

Career Highlights

Russell's career spanned significant hits in both the horror and action-comedy genres. "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors," his directorial debut, was a critical and commercial success that helped launch the career of actress Patricia Arquette.

He followed this with the 1988 remake of the sci-fi horror film "The Blob." His most commercially successful film, "The Mask," starred Jim Carrey and became a cultural phenomenon, propelling Carrey to superstardom. Russell also directed other notable films, including "Eraser" (1996) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and "The Scorpion King" (2002) with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, both of which were box office successes.