R.I.P. David R. Ellis, director of Snakes on a Plane and Shark Night

Last Updated on July 23, 2021

Some pretty sad and surprising news here, horror fans. Deadline.com is reporting that David R. Ellis, best known as the helmer of genre treats like FINAL DESTINATION 2 and 4, SNAKES ON A PLANE and SHARK NIGHT, has died at the age of 60.

Ellis was working in South Africa on a live-action adaptation of the Japanese anime KITE, which was to reunite him with his SNAKES star Samuel L. Jackson. The cause of death is currently unknown.

Ellis worked as a stuntman throughout the 70s and 80s, eventually becoming a stunt coordinator and then a very successful second unit director (he helped orchestrate action sequences on HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, THE MATRIX RELOADED and THE PERFECT STORM). He was recently attached to the horror flick BAD LUCK and the anthology PARIS, I’LL KILL YOU.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ellis twice; on the set of THE FINAL DESTINATION and at San Diego Comic-Con in 2011 when he was promoting SHARK NIGHT. Both times he was incredibly kind and funny, a completely unpretentious guy. He’ll be missed.

 John “The Arrow” Fallon, Ellis and JoBlo in 2011