Alan Parker was an English film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was born in Islington, London in 1944, and began his career as a copywriter in the advertising industry. In the late 1960s, Parker began directing television commercials, and eventually made the transition to feature films. Over the course of his career, he directed a number of highly successful and critically acclaimed films, including Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning, and Evita. Parker was known for his bold and distinctive visual style, and was a master of a wide range of genres, including musicals, dramas, and comedies. He received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including several BAFTA Awards and two Academy Awards. Parker passed away in 2020 at the age of 76.