Chuck Russell, Director Behind A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 and The Mask, Dead at 74

Chuck Russell, the manager down movies similar The Mask and A Nightmare connected Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, has died astatine 74.

The filmmaker down immoderate of the astir memorable movies of the '80s, '90s, and 2000s unexpectedly passed distant astatine his San Diego-area location Wednesday, July 22, 2026, his household told TMZ. Details regarding his decease were not instantly made clear, though the tract said that the section occurrence section was dispatched to his location Wednesday day "following a study of a aesculapian exigency involving an unconscious male."

Russell, calved successful May 1958, made his directing debut with 1987's A Nightmare connected Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. It brought an impactful commencement to his vocation arsenic a manager and was instantly followed by his The Blob remake successful 1988.

Chuck Russell. Photo by Francis Demange/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.

Russell past went connected to squad with Jim Carrey to present quintessential '90s movie The Mask successful 1994. In 1996 and 2000, helium released Eraser and Bless the Child, respectively, and successful 2002, helped bring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to the large surface with The Scorpion King.

Russell's vocation arsenic a manager past slowed down successful the 2000s, with his adjacent project, Fringe, arriving six years aboriginal successful 2010, and I Am Wrath past premiering successful 2016. The last 3 films helium directed were Junglee (2019), Paradise City (2022), and Witchboard (2024).

Russell's The Mask earned an Oscar information astatine the 67th Academy Awards successful 1995. Fans of his enactment person already taken to societal media to stock their condolences with his household and fond memories of his work.

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— Mike (@Motliez) July 24, 2026 — ViewerAnon (@ViewerAnon) July 24, 2026 — David (@KittenByKitten) July 24, 2026 — The Moonlight Warrior 🌙 (@BlackMajikMan90) July 24, 2026

R.I.P. Chuck Russell (1952-2026) pic.twitter.com/2hs76qkVc1

— The Film Stage 📽 (@TheFilmStage) July 24, 2026

Photo by Francis DEMANGE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.

Michael Cripe is simply a freelance writer with IGN. He's champion known for his enactment astatine sites similar The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be definite to springiness him a travel connected Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).