Norman Jewison, storied director and founder of the Canadian Film Centre (CBC), has died at the age of 97.

The Canadian film icon died at home last Saturday (Jan. 20), according to his publicist Jeff Sanderson.

Jewison was a industry mainstay for more than four decades. He was nominated for seven Oscars — including three for Best Director: In the Heat of the Night (1967), Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and Moonstruck (1987) — as well as four for Best Picture: The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming (1966), Fiddler on the Roof, A Soldier’s Story (1984) and Moonstruck. In fact, his work received a remarkable 46 Oscar nominations and 12 Academy Awards.

Jewison won a Genie and an Italian Donatello Award. He was recognized as Best Director by the Berlin Film Festival, the Moscow Film Festival and Camerimage in Poland. In 2010, the Directors Guild of America presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

His list of achievements and awards are, frankly, too lengthy to name.

Jewison was born in Toronto in 1926 and got his start on the stage at age five, performing dramas and musical comedies at Malvern Collegiate Institute. After service in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War, he graduated from University of Toronto’s Victoria College in 1949.

He returned to the stage soon after, finding occasional work with the CBC before landing a two-year work/study program in London, England with the BBC. Afterwards, he returned to CBC to direct and produce musicals, dramas and comedy-variety shows.

In 1958, Jewison was invited to direct Your Hit Parade for CBS. Series such as The Andy Williams Show followed, as well as many others, for which he earned three Emmy Awards.

His debut as a film director came with 1962’s 40 Pounds of Trouble, a comedy starring Tony Curtis and Suzanne Pleshette. That led to a string of project, seeing Jewison grow his capabilities as a filmmaker with each, leading up to 1965’s Steve McQueen-starrer, The Cincinnati Kid, which Jewison co-wrote and directed

Jewison continued to direct for four decades, crafting remarkable cinematic achievements and legendary efforts such as The Thomas Crown Affair (1968),  …And Justice For All (1979) and The Hurricane (1999).

He also directed on Broadway, including Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar and others.

Jewison also made his mark as a producer, including Sundance favourite Dance Me Outside (1994) and The Rez (1996), among many others.

For his final cinematic effort, 2003’s The Statement, Jewison produced and directed. The expansive and celebrated cast included Michael Caine, Tilda Swinton, Jeremy Northam, Charlotte Rampling, Alan Bates and John Neville. The film was produced by Robert Lantos of Serendipity Point Films and written by Ronald Harwood.

In November 1986, Jewison established the CFC, a destination where filmmakers have the opportunity to hone their skills to a state-of-the-art level.

In an official statement from the CFC, the body praised Jewison as “a bold and insightful filmmaker.”

“He had a gift for exploring controversial and complicated subjects and giving them universal accessibility. In life and in storytelling, he shared messages of acceptance, inclusion, empathy and love. He used his voice and his films as a vehicle to not only entertain, but to address critical social issues and injustices. His spirit will forever be the heart of the Canadian Film Centre,” read the statement.

A number of other accolades have poured in for the Canadian icon.

In a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, Jewison was remembered as “an iconic filmmaker, writer, and director.”

“The world of movies has lost one of its greats, and Canada has lost one of its most talented storytellers,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Filmmaker Barry Avrich, who facilitated the re-naming the Hazelton Hotel’s theatre to the Norman Jewison Cinema last year, told Playback Daily: “We lost a global giant in cinema. Norman was Canada’s greatest export that actually stayed home.”

Jewison is survived by wife Lynne St. David; children Kevin, Michael and Jenny; and grandchildren Ella, Megan, Alexandra, Sam and Henry. He was predeceased by his first wife, Margaret Ann Dixon.

Celebration of Life ceremonies will be held in Los Angeles and Toronto at a later date.

Photo by Peter Bregg, courtesy of the Canadian Film Centre