Norman Jewison dies at 97: Legendary 'Moonstruck' director gave Nicolas Cage his first hit

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Celebrated director Norman Jewison has died at 97, his publicist Jeff Sanderson has confirmed.

He revealed that the filmmaker of ‘In the Heat of the Night’ died on Saturday, January 20, at his Los Angeles residence.

Norman Jewison got the Academy's Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award in 1999

He won the Academy's Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award, in 1999, "Forty years ago, I sat at [director] William Wyler's feet and tried to learn how to make movies. Willy Wyler was a god to me, and he won this award. I think that's what is so meaningful to me, to join all those filmmakers that have gone before," he said then.

"I would like to thank my immediate loved ones, my family, every actor, writer, editor, cinematographer, production designer, costume designer, sound man, and editor I've ever worked with," he said. 

Directors Guild of America President Lesli Linka Glatter said in a statement on Monday, January 23, the "legendary" Jewison was "a warrior and champion always ready to defend his fellow directors, their creative rights and the craft of directing."

"Norman’s cinematic range was truly remarkable — few filmmakers can so fluidly and eloquently move between romantic comedies, dramas and musicals as he did," she added.

"But his most powerful films, and those he said were his ‘dearest,’ tackled racism and injustice, including In the Heat of the Night and A Soldier's Story...." she said. 

Norman Jewison finest movies

Norman will be remembered for many classic movies, including 'Jesus Christ Superstar' (1973), 'The Hurricane' (1997), 'A Soldier's Story' (1984), 'In the Heat of the Night' (1967), 'The Thomas Crown Affair' (1968), and 'Fiddler on the Roof' (1971).

His last flick was 2003's The Statement', featuring Michael Caine and Tilda Swinton, per People.

"He will forever be remembered by his fellow directors as a vibrant force — bringing depth, insight and a necessary dose of humor to everything he touched. Our thoughts are with his wife Lynne, his family and the many Directors and Directorial team members fortunate to have been influenced by him.”