Oscar-winning French director Bertrand Blier has died at the age of 85

Oscar winner French director and screenwriter Bertrand Blier died at the age of 85. This was reported by the TV channel France 24 on Tuesday, January 21.

The author of the world-famous paintings "Waltzing" (Les valseuses, 1974) and "Prepare your handkerchiefs" (Préparez vos mouchoirs, 1977) died the day before, January 20.

"The director passed away peacefully on Monday evening at his home in Paris, surrounded by his wife and children," the statement reads.

"Waltzing," based on Blier's own novel of the same name, became a cult classic and the first of nine films starring Gerard Depardieu, whom the director later described as "his favorite actor, his brother in cinema, his alter ego." For his other popular film, "Get Your Handkerchiefs Ready," Blier won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

During his career, Blier has written 24 films and directed about 20 films.