Renowned B-movie maestro Roger Corman, famed for directing and producing countless low-budget films and for launching the careers of Hollywood luminaries such as Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese, and Robert De Niro, has passed away at the age of 98.
Corman breathed his last on May 9 at his residence in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by his loved ones, as confirmed by his family.
“His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, encapsulating the essence of an era. When asked about his legacy, he humbly stated, ‘I was a filmmaker, simply that,’” remarked the family in an official statement.
Corman’s cinematic empire, spanning various iterations including New World Pictures and Concorde/New Horizons, rivaled major studios in its activity and, notably, its consistent profitability. His oeuvre predominantly comprised fast-paced, budget-friendly genre flicks—ranging from horror and action to science fiction and even family-oriented fare. Serving as a launchpad for numerous industry heavyweights, Corman’s company served as a breeding ground for talent, with actors like Nicholson (“Little Shop of Horrors”) and De Niro (“Boxcar Bertha”) and directors like Francis Ford Coppola (“Dementia 13”) and Scorsese (“Boxcar Bertha”) honing their skills under his mentorship.
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