Wolfgang Petersen, director of Air Force One and Neverending Story, has died at 81

Wolfgang Petersen, the German director of such films as Air Force One, The Perfect Storm, Das Boot, and The Neverending Story, has passed away. Petersen rested comfortably in his Brentwood home on Friday when he died of pancreatic cancer. Petersen left this Earth in the arms of his wife of 50 years, Maria Antoinette.

Born on March 14, 1941, in Emden, Germany, Petersen developed a keen eye for the camera during the 1960s and helped to create some of the most memorable and emotional features in Hollywood history. Petersen’s star rose to unimaginable heights after his 1981 feature Das Boot was nominated for six Academy Awards. After taking home the Best Adapted Screenplay and Directing prizes, every studio with a checkbook and a vision wanted to know Petersen’s next move.

As Petersen continued to make waves in the industry, his name became synonymous with effects-driven spectacles starring high-profile talent. Starting with Das Boot‘s release in 1981, Petersen embarked on a streak of blockbuster films that made him a household name. This murderers’ row of excellence includes The Neverending Story (1984), Enemy Mine (1985), Shattered (1991), In the Line of Fire (1993), Outbreak (1995), Air Force One (1997), and The Perfect Storm (2000). Other films in Petersen’s career include Troy (2004), Poseidon (2006), and finally, Four Against the Bank (2016).

Petersen is known for his boundless imagination, a sharp eye for detail, and ability to squeeze every last dollar out of a budget to create cinematic experiences that stand the test of time. He’s also the guy who directed the death of Artax, Atreyu’s faithful steed from The Neverending Story, a moment in pop culture history that still haunts children of the ’80s to this very day.

In addition to his wife, Maria Antoinette, Petersen is survived by his son, Daniel, and two grandchildren. We expect Hollywood’s elite to pay tribute to Petersen in the coming hours, so keep your eyes peeled for kind words about one of Hollywood’s titans crossing over to the other side.

We here at JoBlo would like to extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Petersen’s family, friends, and fans. We’ve loved many of his films throughout the years and can’t imagine the Hollywood landscape without his influence and ability to capture our hearts and imaginations. Rest well, sir.