Quebec’s Jean-Marc Vallée, director of the Dallas Buyers Club and Big Little Lies, dies at 58

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Jean-Marc Vallée, the Quebec director best known for the Oscar-nominated film “Dallas Buyers Club” and the Emmy-winning HBO series “Big Little Lies,” died suddenly in his cabin outside of Quebec City. . He was 58 years old.

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Vallée’s death was reported Sunday by the entertainment website Deadline and confirmed on Twitter by his representative Bumble Ward.

“Still in shock at the news that Jean-Marc Vallée has died,” Ward said, adding that he was considerate and kind “while still being a creative genius.”

Vallée’s breakthrough in Hollywood came with the 2013 AIDS drama “Dallas Buyers Club,” which won an Oscar for actors Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto.

The film was based on the true story of homophobic drug addict Ron Woodroof, played by McConaughey, who smuggles much-needed but unapproved drugs into the United States for distribution to other AIDS patients.

Vallée frequently filmed with natural light and portable cameras, which gave the actors freedom to improvise and move within the scenes. For “Wild,” released in 2014, his team hiked the Pacific Crest Trail with Reese Witherspoon.

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He reunited with Witherspoon for “Big Little Lies,” which also starred Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, and Laura Dern. The show won eight Emmy Awards in 2017.

He directed “Demolition,” a 2015 drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal, about a New York investment banker who faces the sudden death of his wife.

At the time, Vallée had called “Demolition” his most “rock and roll” film, both for its throbbing soundtrack in an otherwise silent film, and for its often provocative and unconventional portrayal of pain.

Vallée, originally from Montreal, dabbled in the film industry with his 1995 thriller “Liste Noire.”

A decade later, his film “CRAZY” was a sensation in Quebec, winning 14 Jutras awards.

He is survived by two sons.

With files from Presse Canadienne.