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Hollywood star dies 'suddenly' after being found unconscious at his home

A Hollywood star who worked on The Mask and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors has been found dead after the fire service responded to reports of an unconscious man

[CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA - JULY 17: Chuck Russell attends "Witchboard" LA Masquerade Ball Special Screening at Culver Theater on July 17, 2025 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Olga Onate/Getty Images)]

Chuck has sadly died at the age of 74(Image: Olga Onate, Getty Images)

A Hollywood star has passed away. Chuck Russell helmed a number of blockbuster successes throughout his career, including A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob and The Mask.

His 2002 film The Scorpion King marked The Rock's debut as a leading man. Chuck's family told TMZ that he died unexpectedly at the age of 74 at his San Diego home.

The local fire service is said to have responded to reports of an unconscious man at the residence on Wednesday afternoon. His relatives are believed to be travelling to California to determine how the filmmaker passed away as his lawyer confirmed his death to Variety, though no cause has been established.

[FRANCE - FEBRUARY 6: Director Chuck Russell, February 6, 1995. (Photo by Francis DEMANGE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)]

Chuck was best known for directing The Mask(Image: Francis DEMANGE, Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1952, Chuck began his career in his twenties as a production manager and assistant director while working on various independent productions, reports the Express.

He wrote screenplays and while serving as executive producer on 1981's Hell Night starring The Exorcist's Linda Blair, he came across Frank Darabont, who became a regular collaborator.

Chuck made his directorial bow with A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors in 1987, which he also wrote. Following the 1988 remake of cult B-movie The Blob, Chuck achieved massive success with The Mask, the 1994 smash hit with Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz.

[US filmmaker Chuck Russell attends the press line for the animated series "Ghosts of Ruin" during San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, on July 22, 2023. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP) (Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)]

His cause of death has not yet been confirmed(Image: CHRIS DELMAS, AFP via Getty Images)

Chuck said in 2024: "New Line wanted another shocking horror film. There was a comic book of The Mask that was quite terrifying. I said it's going to be too much like Freddy Krueger. It's going to be horrible."

The film raked in over $350m, dwarfing its modest $18m production budget. In 2002, he took the helm for The Scorpion King, a spin-off from the well-loved The Mummy adventure films.

Chuck leaves behind his wife of 19 years, Ania, and their three children Logan, Riley and Carlyn.

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