Some sad news to report today. Anthony Minghella, The Oscar Winning director of “Cold Mountain” and “The Talented Mr Ripley”, has died. He suffered a fatal hemorrhage, says Variety.

The 54-year-old filmmaker died 5 a.m. GMT Tuesday at Charing Cross Hospital in London, where he had undergone an operation last week on a growth in his neck.

Minghella most recently directed the BBC/WeinsteinCo./HBO telepic “No 1 Ladies Detective Agency,” based on Alexander McCall Smith’s novel set in Botswana, which is due to premiere March 23 on BBC1. He co-wrote and co-exec produced the adaptation with Richard Curtis.

His last movie was “Breaking and Entering” in 2006, also for the Weinstein Co.

His longtime collaborator and friend Harvey Weinstein said in a statement, “I am shocked and heartbroken that we have lost Anthony. He was my mentor, my partner and, most of all, my brother. The grace, joy and tenderness he brought to his films were symbolic of his life and the many people he touched. There are many personal and professional moments we have shared together and I will treasure them for the rest of my life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family at this difficult moment.”

Jude Law, who starred in “The Talented Mr Ripley,” “Cold Mountain” and “Breaking and Entering,” said, “I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Anthony’s untimely death. I worked with him on three films, more than with any other director, but had come to value him more as a friend than as a colleague. He was a brilliantly talented writer and director who wrote dialogue that was a joy to speak and then put in onto the screen in a way that always looked effortless. He made work feel like fun. He was a sweet, warm, bright and funny man who was interested in everything from football to opera, films, music, literature, people and most of all his family, whom he adored and to whom I send my thoughts and love. I shall miss him hugely.”

Our condolences go out to his family and friends.