We lost another good one. Director Curtis Hanson, who won an Oscar for co-writing "L.A. Confidential," died Tuesday, September 20 in Los Angeles. The L.A. Times said police were called to a Hollywood Hills home for a medical emergency just before 5 p.m., and Hanson was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 71, and police said he died of natural causes.

Hanson is probably best known for directing "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (1992), "The River Wild" (1994), "8 Mile" (2002), "The Wonder Boys," and the modern classic "L.A. Confidential" (1997), which earned him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

"8 Mile" star Eminem was one of the many celebrities to honor Hanson after the news broke. Here's what he shared in a statement (via Entertainment Weekly):

"Curtis Hanson believed in me and our crazy idea to make a rap battle movie set in Detroit. He basically made me into an actor for '8 Mile.' I'm lucky I got to know him."

Here are more reactions from stars who worked with Hanson:


According to the L.A. Times, Hanson "fell gravely ill" in November 2011 while directing "Chasing Mavericks" with Jonny Weston, Gerard Butler and Elisabeth Shue; director Michael Apted reportedly finished the last 15 days of principal photography.

Condolences to the director's family, and the film world at large, for this huge loss.

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