July 24 (UPI) — Director Chuck Russell died Wednesday. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter confirmed his death Friday after TMZ was first to report.

Russell’s wife, Anna, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that he died unexpectedly in their San Diego home. He was 74. Russell’s attorney confirmed to Variety.

A writer and producer on 1983’s Dreamscape and line producer on The Hearse, Russell made his directorial debut with 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

A writer, with Frank Darabont, on the film, the entry introduced teenagers teaming up in dreams to battle Freddy Krueger in their sleep, Freddy’s backstory as the “son of 100 maniacs,” and deriving power from the souls of teens he killed.

His follow-up was a remake of The Blob with updated prosthetic and makeup effects. His 1994 film, The Mask, confirmed Jim Carrey’s ability to open blockbuster movies, following the surprise success of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective earlier that year.

The Mask involved using computer generated visual effects to turn Carrey into a live-action cartoon. It was also Cameron Diaz’s first movie.

Russell also directed the Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle Eraser and Dwayne Johnson’s first leading role in The Scorpion King, spun off from his cameo in The Mummy Returns.

He also directed Kim Basinger in Bless the Child, John Travolta in I Am Wrath and Paradise City, the latter also with Bruce Willis, and the Hindi movie Junglee. His last movie was a 2024 remake of Witchboard.

Russell was also a producer on films like Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Back to School and Collateral as well as many of the films he directed.