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2ND UPDATE: I’m still trying to discover how George Hickenlooper passed away, but I’m told he had been in Colorado campaigning last night for his cousin, John, who is in the final stretch run of the Governor’s race in Colorado. John, the mayor of Denver, is the Democratic Party candidate. Hickenlooper went early to Denver to help his cousin, and had to be there later this week, when Casino Jack will be shown Thursday at the Starz Film Festival. I’m told that George didn’t wake up this morning, but I’m still not sure why.
UPDATE: George Hickenlooper’s Casino Jack star Kevin Spacey has sent me a statement on the shocking passing of his director. “It is with great sadness that I have to even think about writing about George in this way, when I was looking forward to seeing him next week in Los Angeles,” Spacey said. “We have been due to take our film on the road toward its release in December. I can’t believe he’s gone because George was so alive, bubbling with energy, drive, commitment, an open heart and a brilliant sense of humor. He was one of a kind.
“My experience working with him was nothing short of fantastic: from our prison visit with Jack Abramoff, to script meetings, pre-production discussions and finally our first day of shooting. From that day until our last event premiering Casino Jack in Toronto last month, he was a joy to be around. His sensibility and outlook served his everyday. All of us who knew him – who had the chance to collaborate with him – who saw the child in him that he never lost – always looking at life with wonder and curiosity – will miss him with enormous admiration and affection.
I’m shocked and can’t really get it around my head that I won’t be spending the next three months in his company. That Casino Jack turns out to be his last, the pride I feel in it, in his direction, his ideas and the final results . . . has soared. He deserves for audiences to see it and discover his work. And then go out and see what he did before, cause he will deservedly find a whole new audience. And nothing would make George happier than for people to see his work.
Tonight I raise a glass in his honor. Rest in peace, my friend.”
EARLIER: Director George Hickenlooper has passed away at age 47. Best known for directing the 1991 documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse–on the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now–Hickenlooper was preparing for the release of Casino Jack. The Hickenlooper-directed drama stars Kevin Spacey as disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. George was so excited to see the picture finds its way to release through ATO Pictures, after showing it at numerous festivals this year, and he was particularly proud of the performance turned in by Spacey. The film will open December 17 in New York and Los Angeles. His other films included Factory Girl and The Man From Elysian Fields.
Hickenlooper leaves behind wife, Suzanne, and a son, Charles. In a statement, Suzanne Hickenlooper said: “George was a loving father and provider. He had a great creative talent, a generous spirit, and loved life and people more than anyone I know. Charles and I will miss him very much.”
Hickenlooper’s cousin, John, who is currently running for Governor of Colorado, said: “Shock and sadness do not begin to describe our emotions. We are devastated. George had immense creative talents and cinematic gifts, but he was so much more than that to us and all his family. His passion for life, zeal for people and unquenchable curiosity enriched everyone who had the fortune to know him. Our hearts go out to his wife Suzanne, and his son Charles.”
ATO’s Jonathan Dorfman and Temple Fennell said: “On behalf of ATO Pictures, we are devastated by the loss of our friend and colleague, George Hickenlooper. Those who knew George can attest to his amazing talent and commitment to excellence. No one held a bar higher or had a bigger heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
I will continue to furnish information but haven’t yet been told the cause of death. But here is the trailer for Casino Jack:
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George, I’m so sad to hear this news. You were a sweet guy and it was important to me that we finally got to laugh about our rather rocky time working together. What a trip eh? We explored a pretty nutty world and I thank you for that. Maybe you will get to meet A and E after all?? I feel sad for little Charles and your family. You’ll be missed but your work and your memory will live on…………I’m wishing you well on your way x
What a sad sad day to lose someone as talented, gifted, young, and as nice of a guy as you could ever hope to meet. Scratching my head with this, can’t shake it. My heart goes out to all his family and friends.
What a sad and shocking loss. I worked for George on the underseen and underappreciated “The Man from Elysian Fields”. It was the most pleasurable experience I had in over 20 years in the industry. I never worked with a director who was more collaborative and open to new ideas. It seems like a week wouldn’t go by without George yelling at me, “Chris, you’re a f***ing genius!” for some little suggestion I would make.
I am very sad for his family, as well as for all of us who won’t get to see the good work he won’t get to do.
Godspeed, George.
I was a P.A. on Ghost Brigade (aka Grey Knight), a civil war zombie vampire movie. It was, I think, George’s first narrative feature. It was and is a truly terrible movie, and rightfully unknown. I was an unpaid intern and overall, fairly miserable. But George was always incredibly generous, actually inviting me to dailies and allowing me to make a nuisance of myself as I learned what I could on the set. In the years that followed I was pleased to see his career take off from such an ignoble beginning. Now, I’m a working screenwriter, thanks in some small way to Mr. Hickenlooper’s kindness 17 years ago.
So sad and so shocking. I played Tom Delay’s secretary in Casino Jack and I’ve never had the pleasure of working with a sweeter director. George made me and everyone around him feel special, because he was such a special person himself. RIP lovely man. You are missed so much already.
George was a man of boundless energy, creativity and love for life. I remember him screening his brilliant student films when we were both freshmen in college. The whole audience knew he was destined to do wonderful things — we just didn’t realize how little time he would have to complete them. His passion carried him through the madness of Hollywood and was a beacon to the rest of us who followed in his footsteps. I’d say “rest in peace”, but George was never one to rest. Wherever he is now, he is marching forward as boldly as he did in life.
a sweet post – thank you for it.
George was a dear childhood friend of mine. Growing up in the Bay Area, we wrote and drew our own comics together, made Super-8 animated films together, and stayed up late watching Bob Wilkins on “Creature Features” together. His sense of humor and wheezy, infectious laugh will stay with me always. My deepest condolences to George’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Yeah Bobmcbob, that was really tasteless. Hopefully people will be much more considerate of you and your family when you pass away.
Those who go through life permanently pissed off tend to die soon one way or another. Not a nice person at all I’m afraid to say. A shame though as I did quite like Factory Girl though any movie revolving around Andy Warhol’s crew will pale in comparison’s to Mary Harron’s film I Shot Andy Warhol.
George was not permanently pissed through life and that certainly is not a reason for someone to die soon, what an awful thing to say. George was generous, kind, funny and a joy to be around. If he was pissed off at something or someone he had good reason to be and they generally deserved it. George was always outspoken and not afraid to speak his mind. He was never quiet about the issues he dealt with on Factory Girl but that didn’t mean he was a permanently pissed off person. Sad that you would speak so ignorantly of someone who has passed on. It’s your loss you never got to know him better, as he left the rest of us with wonderful memories and will be truly missed. RIP GH.
A good friend, a great client, and a true artist, whose work will last well beyond all of our years. I’m so sad that you won’t get to relish in the joy that your film will bring to so many people.
I met George my freshman year at Yale in the laundry room on Old Campus. His genius and passion for film were already firmly in bloom… he packed a lot in in his short time… I admired him and will continue to be inspired by him…
Was just getting to know George and he was a good guy — filled with creative energy. In our few meetings recently, it was clear he had plenty of stories that he was hoping to tackle. Condolences to his friends and family.
Dear George–I hope you have a decent internet connection where you are–maybe an ethernet connection?–so you can keep tabs on all the love we have for you and on the big difference you made for so many.
Sad to see you go my friend!