Hollywood director James Foley, known for his work on ‘Fifty Shades Darker’, ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ and ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’, has died at the age of 71. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Los Angeles home earlier this week after a long battle with brain cancer. A representative confirmed the news, stating that the director had faced a “years-long struggle” with the disease.

Foley, a respected figure in Hollywood for more than three decades, collaborated with industry giants such as Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Madonna, and Mark Wahlberg. His films were celebrated for their emotional depth, stylish direction, and compelling performances.

James Foley began his career in the mid-1980s, making his directorial debut with ‘Reckless’ in 1984, starring Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah. This marked the start of his journey as a filmmaker with a distinctive visual style. In 1986, he directed several music videos for Madonna, including ‘Papa Don’t Preach’, ‘Live to Tell’, and ‘True Blue’, which became iconic and demonstrated his versatility between film and music.

His breakthrough came with the 1992 drama ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’, based on David Mamet’s play. The film featured Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, and Alec Baldwin, and remains a respected film of the 1990s. Foley’s direction was praised for emphasizing the actors’ performances while maintaining high tension.

Over the years, he directed thrillers such as ‘Fear’ starring Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon, ‘The Corruptor’ with Chow Yun-fat and Mark Wahlberg, and the crime drama ‘Confidence’ with Edward Burns, Dustin Hoffman, and Rachel Weisz. Foley also directed the psychological thriller ‘Perfect Stranger’, starring Halle Berry and Bruce Willis.

After a break from major films, James Foley directed ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ (2017) and ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ (2018), the last two installments of the ‘Fifty Shades’ series. Both films were international box office successes. Foley also directed episodes of the political drama ‘House of Cards’.

He is survived by his brother Kevin, sisters Eileen and Jo Ann, and nephew Quinn. His brother Gerard passed away before him. James Foley's legacy lives on through his films, music videos, and TV shows.