Director David R. Ellis died early this morning. Best known for Snakes on a Plane, the director was 60 years old.
Ellis is probably best known for the Samuel L. Jackson shlockfest Snakes on a Plane. Other genre titles to his name include Final Destination 2, The Final Destination, Asylum, and Shark Night 3D. As a second unit director, Ellis worked on Clear and Present Danger, Waterworld, Sphere, Deep Blue Sea, The Perfect Storm, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Most recently, Ellis was directing the second unit on R.I.P.D. as well as prepping his next film, Kite.
Ellis got his start in Hollywood in the 1970s as a stunt man and later, stunt coordinator, with roles in such projects as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Scarface, Misery, The Addams Family, and Warlock: The Armageddon.
Ellis died suddenly in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was working on his next film, Kite. Cause of death is unknown at this time.
Source: Deadline