Notable screenwriter and actor, Patrice Chereau, died on Monday in Paris, France due to complications of lung cancer. He was 68 years old.

Chereau was widely known for his role as the French director of opera, and served as a dominant figure in the French film industry for more than 40 years. He played a significant role in more than 20 French films throughout the tenure of his entire career. He also directed 9 operas, and 10 theatrical productions over a 38 year span.

In 1975, Chereau penned his first film production script for “The Flesh of the Orchid.” His 1984 screenplay, “The Wounded Man” was also another plausible production he was lauded for. He received a Cesar award in honor of his directional role in the play.

Some of his most prominent film and theatrical productions were “Queen Margot” and “Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train.” His “Queen Margot” production garnered two honorary prizes in the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar for Costume Design. The Cannes Film Festival commemorated “Queen Margot” this year, debuting a newly restored version of film.

In 2001, Chereau embarked into new film territory with his production “Intimacy.” The sexually charged film marked yet another successful milestone in Chereau’s career as it was his first and only English-language film production. The film went on to win a Berlin Film Festival award for Best Film.

Chereau’s latest work was a theatrical production of Richard Strauss’ “Elektra.” The New York Times reports that “Elektra” premiered at the Aux-en-Provence earlier this summer, and is slated to open at the Metropolitian Opera House in 2016.

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