Academy Award winning director Anthony Minghella died Tuesday at age 54 in London from a fatal hemorrhage.

“The English Patient” director most recently directed HBO telepicture “No 1 Ladies Detective Agency,” based on Alexander McCall Smith’s novel set in Botswana, which is due to premiere March 23 on BBC1.

His last theatrical movie was “Breaking and Entering” in 2006 with Jude Law and his other movie credits include “Cold Mountain,” “The Talented Mr Ripley,” “Mr. Wonderful” and “Truly Madly Deeply.”

Minghella recently stepped down as chairman of the British Film Institute after serving four years. He was a partner with Sydney Pollack in Mirage Enterprises, and served as producer on Mirage pics, including “The Interpreter,” “Catch a Fire” and “The Reader.”

He is survived by his wife Carolyn, a producer, and his two children — Hannah, who was named last week as president of production at Sony Pictures Animations, and Max Minghella (”Bee Season“), an actor who is currently filming “Agora” with Spanish director Alejandro Amenabar.

Harvey Weinstein said in a statement:

“I am shocked and heartbroken that we have lost Anthony. He was my mentor, my partner and, most of all, my brother. The grace, joy and tenderness he brought to his films were symbolic of his life and the many people he touched. There are many personal and professional moments we have shared together and I will treasure them for the rest of my life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family at this difficult moment.”

Jude Law who starred in three Minghella films said:

“I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Anthony’s untimely death. I worked with him on three films, more than with any other director, but had come to value him more as a friend than as a colleague. He was a brilliantly talented writer and director who wrote dialogue that was a joy to speak and then put in onto the screen in a way that always looked effortless. He made work feel like fun. He was a sweet, warm, bright and funny man who was interested in everything from football to opera, films, music, literature, people and most of all his family, whom he adored and to whom I send my thoughts and love. I shall miss him hugely.”

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