Legendary Director Sidney Lumet Dies of Lymphoma at 86

The death of Sidney Lumet, the award-winning director of historic and legendary films like “Dog Day Afternoon” and “Network” this past Saturday came as a blow to movie-makers everywhere. The iconic filmmaker died in his home in New York City from lymphoma at the age of 86.

Lumet’s career lasted six decades, and he ushered in over 40 films during that time. Among his best known classics were "12 Angry Men" (1957), "Serpico" (1973), "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974), "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975), "Network" (1976), and "The Wiz" (1978).

Famously, Lumet refused to work anywhere other than New York in order to preserve the quality in his craft. That, coupled with his theater-honed background made him very much unlike the typical Hollywood director that one would usually encounter over the past few decades. A product of the Depression-times, he had a sensibility about him that was respected by many and questioned by few.

As he came up in Hollywood, Lumet brought many of the techniques he picked up during his time on stage with him to the big screen. He insisted on heavy rehearsals and bringing in complicated and over-the-top projects in under budget.

In 2005, Lumet was given the Acadamey Award for Lifetime Achievment in recognition of his "brilliant services to screenwriters, performers, and the art of the motion picture."

Lumet’s most recent work was the 2007-released “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.”