Prolific documentarian Harry Rasky (Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love) died in a Toronto hospital on April 9 of a heart attack following hip surgery. He was 78 years old.

Born in 1928 to Jewish immigrants, Rasky started his career in newspapers before moving to the U.S. in the 1950s to produce TV series and documentaries. Later, at the CBC, he turned out distinctly revealing and beautiful documentaries (termed ‘Raskymentaries’) through the ’70s and ’80s. His work includes portraits of Leonard Cohen and Arthur Miller, plus the autobiographical Nobody Swings on Sundays.

Honors for his work include an Oscar nomination in 1977 for Homage to Chagall, plus an Emmy and several ACTRA and Peabody Awards. Rasky is survived by his wife Arlene and their two children, Holly and Adam.