Jean-Marc Vallee (director and producer), who was nominated for an Emmy and won multiple Oscar nominations for his HBO hit series Big Little Lies, and whose drama Dallas Buyers Club (2013), received numerous Oscar nominations, is dead at 58.
According to Bumble Ward, his representative, the filmmaker suddenly died in his Quebec City cabin, Canada over the weekend.
Vallee’s close family members and advisors are said to be’shocked by his death. His producing partner Nathan Ross confirmed the passing and paid tribute in a statement.
Jean Marc stood for authenticity, creativity and trying different things. Ross stated that he was an artist, generous, and loving man.
“Everyone who had the opportunity to work with him could not help but notice his talent and vision. Ross stated that Ross was his friend, creative partner and older brother.
Jean-Marc Vallee (director and producer), who was nominated for an Emmy and won multiple Oscar nominations for his HBO hit series Big Little Lies, and whose drama Dallas Buyers Club (2013), received numerous Oscar nominations, is dead at 58.
Jean-Marc Vallee, actor Matthew McConaughey, attend the Universal!, NBC!, Focus Features!, E! The Chrysler sponsorship viewing was followed by a party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel with Gold Meets Gold on January 12, 2014, in Beverly Hills. Vallee won critical praise for the direction of Dallas Buyers Club (2013), starring McConaughey.
Jean Marc stood for authenticity, creativity and trying new things. Nathan Ross, his producing partner, stated that Marc was both an artist and generous man. “Everyone who had the opportunity to work with him could not help but notice his talent and vision. Vallee, at the Asian World Film Festival in Beverly Hills on June 19, 2021.
Ross stated, “The maestro will be sorely missed, but it will comfort us to know his beautiful style & impactful work will live on”,
He was born in Montreal, and studied filmmaking at Quebec University.
His career began in music video and short film production in the 1980s, and he made his feature film debut in 1995 with Liste Noire.
He would go on to direct Los Locos in 1997 for writer-star Mario Van Peebles, Danny Trejo and Rene Auberjonois and 2005’s C.R.A.Z.Y. Marc-Andre Grondin with Michel Cote, into the mainstream in 2009 with The Young Victoria, written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend.
He next wrote and directed Cafe de Flore in 2011 starring Vanessa Paradis and Evelyne Brochu, before his Oscar-nominated drama Dallas Buyers Club in 2013.
Vallee is a highly sought-after celebrity because of the popularity of Dallas Buyers Club. Jared Leto was featured in it, as well as Matthew McConaughey.
He was known for his naturalistic approach in filmmaking and he directed several stars, such as Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal, during the decade preceding his passing.
Vallee followed up Dallas Buyers Club with the 2014 adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild, starring Witherspoon and Laura Dern, before directing Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts in the 2015 film Demolition.
After that, he made the move to the small screen. He directed the 2017 season of Big Little Lies and the eight episodes in the HBO series Sharp Objects. Adams won DGA awards.
Jean-Marc Vallee, director, and Jake Gyllenhaal, actor, attend InStyle Party at Windsor Arms Hotel, Toronto, during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sept. 6, 2014.
Start of his career: Vallee began his career in music video and short film production in late 1980s, early 1990s. He then made his feature film debut in 1995 with Liste Noire.
Vallee often shot with natural light and hand-held cameras and gave actors freedom to improvise the script and move around within a scene´s location. To shoot Witherspoon’s 2014 film ‘Wild,’ the crew walked up and down Pacific Coast Trail.
The Canadian filmmaker stated that actors could move wherever they wanted in an interview with him back in 2014.
It is giving importance to stories, emotion and characters. My goal is to not interfere with the story. Performances don’t have to be cut.
“Often the cinematographer was like this: This location is sucks. It’s not great. But, hey, that’s life.”
Nathan Ross stated, “The maestro will be sorely missed but it will comfort to know his beautiful style as well as the profound work he shared for the world will live on,”
Vallee is survived by his two sons – Alex and Emile – and siblings Marie-Josee Vallee, Stephane Tousignant and Gerald Vallee.
Demolition: He directed Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts in the 2015 film Demolition with Jake Gyllenhaal before moving to the small screen with the first season of Big Little Lies in 2017
TV: He also directed all eight episodes of the critically-acclaimed HBO limited series Sharp Objects, starring Amy Adams