Richard Glatzer dead: Still Alice director dies of ALS

Director of the Oscar-winning film has died of motor neurone disease aged 63

(ZUMA/Rex Features)

Richard Glatzer, who fought ALS while writing and directing Oscar-winning film Still Alice, died on Tuesday.

Glatzer worked on the film alongside his husband Wash Westmoreland.

"I am devastated. Rich was my soulmate, my collaborator, my best friend and my life," Westmoreland said. "Seeing him battle ALS for four years with such grace and courage inspired me and all who knew him.

"In this dark time, I take some consolation in the fact that he got to see Still Alice go out into the world. He put his heart and soul into that film, and the fact that it touched so many people was a constant joy to him."

ALS, which is known in the UK as motor neurone disease, causes progressive muscle weakness.

Julianne Moore, who won the Best Actress award for playing the lead role said in her acceptance speech: "When Richard was diagnosed with ALS, "Wash asked him what he wanted to do. Did he want to travel, did he want to see the world? He said that he wanted to make movies - and that's what he did." Glatzer was unable to attend the ceremony due to poor health.

Towards the end of his life, Glatzer was only able to communicate by tapping the big toe of his right foot on an adapted iPad.

Co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics, Tom Bernard and Michael Barker, described Glazer's death as "a profound loss for all of us who worked with him and know him as an exceptional human being."