Victor Fleming was one of the most popular and influential directors in Hollywood history, best known for his work on the 1939 classics Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. But how did he die and what was his cause of death?
A Brief Biography of Victor Fleming
Victor Fleming was born on February 23, 1889, near Pasadena, California. He showed a mechanical aptitude early in life and worked as a car mechanic before entering the film industry as a stunt driver and camera assistant. He worked with renowned directors such as Allan Dwan and D.W. Griffith, and directed his first feature film in 1919, starring Douglas Fairbanks.
Fleming signed with Paramount in 1922 and directed several silent films, including The Way of All Flesh, Hula, and Abie’s Irish Rose. He also directed Gary Cooper in two westerns, The Wolf Song and The Virginian, which was one of the first successful talkies. He left Paramount in 1931 and joined MGM, where he became one of the studio’s top directors.
Fleming directed many stars and genres, from comedies and dramas to action and adventure. Some of his notable films include Red Dust, Treasure Island, Captains Courageous, Test Pilot, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Joan of Arc. However, he is most famous for directing two of the most beloved and acclaimed films of all time: Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, both released in 1939. He won an Academy Award for Best Director for Gone with the Wind, and was nominated for the same award for The Wizard of Oz.
Victor Fleming Cause of Death: A Heart Attack at 59
Victor Fleming died on January 6, 1949, at the age of 59. He was on his way to a hospital in Cottonwood, Arizona, after suffering a heart attack while driving his car. He was accompanied by his wife, Lucile, and his friend, actor Thomas Mitchell. He was buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.
According to Wikipedia, Fleming had a history of heart problems and had suffered a mild heart attack in 1948, while working on his last film, Joan of Arc. He had also been under a lot of stress and pressure during his career, especially while directing Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, which were both troubled productions with multiple changes of directors, writers, and cast members. Fleming was known for being a demanding and perfectionist director, but also a charismatic and adventurous man who loved outdoor sports and flying planes.
Victor Fleming’s death was a great loss for the film industry and the millions of fans who admired his work. He left behind a legacy of cinematic masterpieces that continue to inspire and entertain generations of viewers. He was one of the most versatile and talented directors of his era, and one of the few who could handle both epic and intimate stories with equal skill and flair. He was, as film critic David Thomson wrote, “a man’s director, but a woman’s too”.
