'New Wave' British horror director Norman J Warren dies aged 78 following a year of ill health
Horror director Norman J Warren died in the early hours of Thursday morning, following a year of ill health. He was 78.
The English director is best known for 1970s horror films such as Satan's Slave, Prey and Terror, as well as the 1980s works Inseminoid and Bloody New Year.
His films were referred to as 'New Wave' British horror due to the gore and sexually explicit scenes following the popularity of the Hammer Horror film series.
Beloved filmmaker: Horror director Norman J Warren died in the early hours of Thursday morning, following a year of ill health. He was 78
Norman’s manager and close friend Thomas Bowington confirmed news of his death to the PA news agency, adding that he passed away from natural causes.
Share this article
Thomas said: 'He was a groundbreaking director in the '70s and '80s after so many films had been in a period setting, he put horror in a more modern setting.
'He was the biggest film lover I ever met, he loved films and was so helpful to young filmmakers. He was always happy, always laughing, always kind.'
Films: The English director is best known for 1970s horror films such as Satan's Slave (pictured)
He added: 'Considering some of his films were quite savage, a gentler, kind, sweet chap you couldn’t find, he was like everyone’s best friend.'
Despite his success in the horror genre, Norman stopped making feature films in the 1980s, when he started producing documentaries and educational films for the BBC.
And, in showing how far removed he became from his older work, Thomas said he ended up becoming very popular with children due to his 'lovely, easy-going' nature.
Among his body of work was a number of short films, including the silent film Fragment, which he made with frequent collaborator John Scott.
Inseminoid: Actress Judy Geeson is seen in character in Norman's 1981 sci-fi horror Inseminoid
Screenwriter David McGillivray, who also worked with Norman, also paid tribute to the filmmaker following his death, recalling when they first met in the late 1960s.
He said: 'Norman J Warren was my best friend in the entertainment business. We met in 1967 when he was making his first feature My Private Hell.
‘He was the youngest director of "sexploitation" films in the 60s and went on to try other genres until the 1980s.’
Paying further tribute, David noted that Norman’s early films have gone on to become 'cult successes', adding that he 'liked nothing more' than meeting fans and aspiring filmmakers at conventions and festivals.
RIP: Norman’s manager and close friend Thomas Bowington (centre) confirmed news of his death to the PA news agency, adding that he passed away from natural causes
Most watched News videos
- Youths shout abuse at local after warnings to avoid crumbling dunes
- Shocking moment mother is catapulted from funfair ride
- King Charles unveils first official portrait since Coronation
- Wild moment would-be mugger gets stabbed by victims
- Gillian Keegan describes 'evidence' behind new gender education rules
- Rishi Sunak claims he 'can't remember' his own sex education
- Moment British tourists scatter loved-one's ashes into sea in Turkey
- Horrifying vid shows fight breakout with car circling towards man
- Beach fight! Wild moment tourist is gored by a bull in Cabo
- Missouri Republican candidate says don't be 'weak and gay'
- Moment bikini-clad girls stun locals walking through Palma
- Incoming Dutch government promises 'strictest asylum rules ever'
