An American filmmaker known for his meticulous attention to detail, he rose to fame with the critically acclaimed film "The Deer Hunter" (1978), which won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. His career began in advertising and screenwriting before transitioning to directing. Though his follow-up film, "Heaven's Gate" (1980), was a notorious box office failure, it later gained a cult following. Known for his perfectionism, he remained a controversial and influential figure in cinema.