Another day in 2020, another day full of bad news. Director Joel Schumacher passed away today at the age of 80 after a year-long battle with cancer.
He began his career as a costume designer, but ended up directing several films, including vampire classic The Lost Boys, 1980s drama St. Elmo’s Fire, and the less-beloved Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. He also directed Falling Down, Dying Young, Phone booth, and two episodes of the Netflix hit House pf Cards.
As such, he was known for bright, colorful sets and some of the coolest looks in cinema…but also adding nipples on the Batsuit, which he did address in a 2017 Vice interview: “I just know that I’ll always go down over the nipples on Batman starting with Batman Forever.”
Schumacher is remembered amongst the film community as a sweet, humorous man who was always looking to help up-and-comers. He was also one of the few openly gay mainstream directors, which many say gave them hope they had a place in Hollywood.
— Kiefer Sutherland (@RealKiefer) June 22, 2020
I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER FEELING HOPEFUL WHEN I LEARNED HE WAS GAY AND OUT, AND THAT THERE MAY BE A PLACE FOR ME YET. HIS VISIBILITY MATTERED, NIPPLES AND ALL.https://t.co/DqYUMKI4fq via @variety
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) June 22, 2020
Joel Schumacher has passed away. He saw deeper things in me than most and he lived a wonderfully creative and heroic life. I am grateful to have had him as a friend. pic.twitter.com/7kOeJ96rL8
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) June 22, 2020
#JoelSchumacher was the funniest, chicest, most hilarious director I ever worked with. Once,on set,an actress was complaining about me within earshot; how I was dreadfully over the top (I was)Joel barely looked up from his NYT+said “Oh Honey,no one ever paid to see under the top”
— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) June 23, 2020
He was such a kind man. At the start of my writing career a script of mine was sent to him, although he passed, he took the time to send an actual letter. For a new writer that meant everything. It’s still framed on my wall. #RIPJoelSchumacher pic.twitter.com/lSCJh0tvU7
— Thomas Johnson (@ThomasJinLA) June 22, 2020