WILLY WONKA Director Mel Stuart Dies at 83

ETonline reports that director Mel Stuart has passed away at the age of 83. Stuart is best known for helming the musical film 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.' The news that Stuart had died last night of cancer in his home in Los Angeles was revealed to the Associated Press by the director's daughter. 

'Willy Wonka' was released in theaters in 1971. The film, starring Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson, told the story of a poor boy named Charlie who won a contest to visit a magical candy factory run by the mysterious Willy Wonka. 

Among Stuart's many other film credits were dozens of documentaries including three editions of The Making of the President, as well as the PBS series American Masters. His well-known film Wattstax followed the 1972 music festival and the mostly black Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts which experienced riots in 1965.

Photo courtesy of Mel Stuart Productions