Lee Thompson, director of the award winning GUNS OF NAVARONE and 2 of the original PLANET OF THE APES flicks has died

British director, J. Lee Thompson, 88, who helmed the classic "Men On A Mission" war film THE GUNS OF NAVARONE and the 1962 CAPE FEAR has died of congestive heart failure in Sooke, British Columbia. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Penny, a daughter and a granddaughter.

GUNS is one of ol' Father Geek here's favorite films. Here at Geek Headquarters we have copies of it on DVD, VHS, and on 16mm film. It is quite probably the best "men on a mission" flick ever made. Thompson moved to the United States after "The Guns of Navarone," starring Peck and Quinn, came out in 1961.

The multi tasking Thompson (writer-producer-director-actor) has more then 50 films to his credit, including two of the original "Planet of the Apes" films(Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and Battle for the Planet of the Apes), and nine of those great Charles Bronson movies like "The Evil That Men Do" all as director.

He received awards from film fests around the world... was nominated for a Golden Bear at Berlin back in 59 for "Tigar Bay". He has received 4 BAFTA nominations and he was nominated for a best director Oscar for his work on 1961's "Guns of Navarone".

Thompson worked many times with "Guns" star Gregory Peck, perhaps most importantly in 1962's "Cape Fear"; he directed "Navarone's" other star Anthony Quinn for 1978's "The Greek Tycoon"; and he worked with Yul Brynner in the wonderful "Taras Bulba" also in 1962 and again the next year in the fantastic phantasy retelling of Mexican Indian legends with "Kings of the Sun." But despite those great films Father Geek remembers Thompson most for his work that helped to define the Bronson Action film with motion pictures including "St. Ives," "10 to Midnight," "Messenger of Death," "Death Wish 4," "White Buffalo," and the previously mentioned "Evil That Men Do." Thompson's last film, "Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects," was made in in 1989.

J. Lee Thompson was born in Bristol, England; John Lee Thompson was a bantamweight boxer and a B-29 tailgunner during World War II. He began his film career at London's Elstree Studios as an editing assistant and dialogue coach to actors working on Alfred Hitchcock films. He gave us lots of great memories over the years, we will miss him here at Geek Headquarters...

For a list of many of his films Just Click Right Here