http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i99e7b38cf6795ab06001811fba7bb00a

Director John Hughes dies at 59

'Breakfast Club,' 'Ferris Bueller' helmer had a heart attack

Aug 6, 2009, 04:44 PM ET

John Hughes, director of "The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," died of a heart attack Thursday. He was 59.

Hughes died while taking a morning walk during a trip to Manhattan to visit family.

He made a teen star of Molly Ringwald with 1984's "Sixteen Candles," about a girl's nightmarish birthday on the eve of her sister's wedding. Ringwald also starred in "Breakfast Club," about a group of high school misfits during Saturday detention, and "Pretty in Pink." He also wrote and produced 1990's "Home Alone."

Hughes lived in Illinois and set many of his films in the Chicago area.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, two sons, John and James, and four grandchildren.

I loved his movies - TBC and Home Alone were my favorite out of his films.

RIP!

His movies defined my generation. The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off...loved 'em all.

RIP, Mr. Hughes! And dying at 59 is just too young.

59 is FAR too young!

And same as Wendy, I grew up on the National Lampoons, 16 Candles, Pretty in Pink and my two faves, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Breakfast Club. Gawd I had such a crush on John Bender. The way he looked at Molly Ringwald's character... too bad he was verbally harassing her at the same time. I like to think that Hughes wasn't afraid to let his teen characters show their flaws and let the audience make up its own mind.

Watched both movies this Sunday in commemoration. They were a treat. Remember when teenagers actually looked like real people and not 25-year old supermodels?

I loved the Breakfast Club, quite the cult classic and the rest as well were all very good.

Very sad, 59 is way too young to go.