Jean-Marc Vallee, director of Oscar-winning films like Dallas Buyers Club and The Young Victoria, died on December 25. According to a New York Times report, while details about the cause of death were not immediately available, a spokesperson for the police department said that he was found by friends who had gone to visit him.
He was 58.
The Canadian filmmaker was born in 1963 and graduated from the University of Quebec, in Montreal. He was known for his naturalistic and generous approach to filmmaking, as per the report. His colleagues and others remember him as a dreamer and a passionate filmmaker.
Vallee dabbled in short films before making his feature film debut in 1995, with Black List which was nominated for several Genie Awards- the Canadian equivalent of the Oscars. Black List‘s success was followed by Los Locos (1997) and Loser Love (1999). However, what catapulted Vallee to stardom, and led to his consequent collaboration with Hollywood bigwigs, was the 2005 film C.R.A.Z.Y..
The film revolves around a boy with sexual identity issues growing up in the 1960s and ’70s. The French-language drama shot in Montreal was also the top-grossing Canadian film of 2005, and won the Best Canadian feature film award at that year’s edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. The recognition brought Vallee to the notice of producers like Graham King who later co-produced Vallee’s film The Young Victoria (2009), starring Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria, along with famed filmmaker Martin Scorsese. The film won the BAFTA and the Oscars for costume design.
In 2013, Vallee directed Dallas Buyers Club, a true-life tale about Ron Woodroof who started smuggling drugs as alternative medicine after being diagnosed with AIDS. Actor Matthew McConaughey played the lead role. The film also saw the return of actor Jared Leto after a hiatus of three years. Both McConaughey and Leto won the Golden Globes as well as the Oscars for lead and supporting roles, respectively for the film.
Post Vallee’s death, McConaughey took to Twitter, and wrote, “With a gentle hand and heart, Jean-Marc was a true receiver- he didn’t romanticize life so much as he saw life romantic – from the struggle to the pain to the wink and the whisper, love stories were everywhere in his eye.”
Leto called Vallee “a filmmaking force and a true artist who changed my life with a beautiful movie called Dallas Buyers Club.”
Witherspoon, who also worked with Vallee on the film Wild, wrote, “I will always remember you as the sun goes down. Chasing the light. On a mountain in Oregon. On a beach in Monterey. Making sure we all caught a little magic in this lifetime. I love you, Jean Marc. Until we meet again.”
In an Instagram post, Woodley wrote “You asked all the questions, and demanded so few absolute answers. You let the journey be the destination. The seeking be the sought. The unknown was where you thrived because it meant you were open to the magic of the experience.”
The NYT report added that in an interview published by HBO, in 2018, Vallee spoke about having four female protagonists in Big Little Lies, and said, “I’m not afraid of intelligent, strong women. You got to create a space where they’re going to feel respected and comfortable.”
Kidman shared a bunch of photos from the sets of Big Little Lies, and wrote, “He was at the center of my creative universe and I can’t overstate his significance to me. Jean-Marc was not only responsible for some of the most rewarding professional experiences of my career, but his friendship, kindness and love were an inspiring force I will carry with me.”
Vallee, who directed just the first season of the show, won the Primetime Emmy Award for Best Direction.
Dern took to Instagram, and sharing a photo of hers and Vallee, wrote, “Beautiful Jean-Marc Vallee. The world has lost one of our great and purest artists and dreamers. And we lost our beloved friend. Our hearts are broken.”
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, also paid his tribute to the director, and wrote on Twitter, “Jean-Marc Vallée’s passion for filmmaking and storytelling was unmatched – so too was his talent. Through his work and with his art, he left a mark in Quebec, across Canada, and around the world. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans as they mourn his sudden passing.”
Apart from the above projects, Vallee also directed Jake Gyllenhaal-starrer Demolition, and HBO’s show Sharp Objects.
The Toronto International Film Festival acknowledged Vallee’s work, and noted on social media, that he was the only director whose films both opened (Demolition) and closed (The Young Victoria) the event.
Vallee, a divorcee, is survived by two sons, Alex and Emile.
