George Hickenlooper, filmmaker, dead at 47

George Hickenhooper, known for producing films such as the making-of documentary "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse" about "Apocalypse Now," has died. He was 47.

The filmmaker was found dead in Denver Saturday morning (Oct. 30) and appears to have died from natural causes with no foul play suspected, reports the Denver Post.

Hickenlooper was in town to premiere his latest film, "Casino Jack" on Thursday at the Starz Denver Film Festival with his cousin, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. The film stars Kevin Spacey as corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

"Shock and sadness do not begin to describe our emotions. We are devastated," says Mayor Hickenlooper in a statement. "George had immense creative talents and cinematic gifts, but he was so much more than that to us and all his family. His passion for life, zeal for people and unquenchable curiosity enriched everyone who had the fortune to know him. We will miss his sense of humor, his warm character and the avid encouragement he gave anyone around him. Our hearts go out to his wife, Suzanne, and his son, Charles."

The Starz festival kicks off Wednesday (Nov. 3) and "will be dedicated  in its entirity to our friend George Hickenloopper. This is a terrible loss. He was a great, great friend to us and our hearts go out to his friends and family," says festival director Britta Erickson.

Hickenlooper's other film highlights include the Edie Sedgwick biopic "Factory Girl" starring Sienna Miller, the "Mayor of Sunset Strip" documentary about Rodney Bingenheimer, "The Man from Elysian Fields" and "Hick Town," a doc following his cousin through the Democratic National Convention. He was working on the documentary "Johnnie Be Good," about the relationship between Chuck Berry and Johnnie Johnson.

A trailer for "Casino Jack," which is tentatively set to open in theaters this winter.




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