ADVERTISEMENTRichard Glatzer, the co-director and co-writer of “Still Alice”, for which Julianne Moore won a best actress Oscar last month, has died aged 63 of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“I am devastated. Rich was my soul mate, my collaborator, my best friend and my life. Seeing him battle ALS for four years with such grace and courage inspired me and all who knew him,” Wash Westmoreland, the film’s co-director and his husband, said on Twitter.
I am devastated. Richard was my soulmate, my collaborator, my life. A true artist and a brilliant man. @stillalicepic.twitter.com/hSRriYMjhe
— Wash Westmoreland (@Washmoreland) March 12, 2015
“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.”
R.I.P. Richard Glatzer, co-director of 'Still Alice,' who had suffered with ALS. pic.twitter.com/GjbrVY0TLB
— The Film Stage (@TheFilmStage) March 11, 2015
Moore, 54, who stars as a linguistics professor with early-onset Alzheimer’s in “Still Alice” won her latest Academy Award February 22, another high point in her career spanning a quarter-century.
“Finally, to our filmmakers, Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer, who had hoped to be here tonight, but they can’t because of Richard’s health,” she said. “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 he wanted to make movies. And that’s what he did”, Julianne Moore said at Oscar’s ceremony.
ALS is a progressive degenerative nervous system disease that weakens muscles and physical functioning.