Chuck Russell, director of The Mask and The Blob, dies aged 74

The film-maker, also behind A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, died on Wednesday in his San Diego home

Director Chuck Russell, who helped propel actors such as Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to the Hollywood A-list, was found dead in his San Diego, California, home on Wednesday. He was 74.

Russell directed several box office hits in his decades-long career including A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob and The Mask. In 2002, his film The Scorpion King featured The Rock in his first leading role.