Filmmaker George Hickenlooper was found dead Saturday in Denver. The Mayor of Sunset Strip and Factory Girl director was in Colorado to promote his latest film, Casino Jack, at the Starz Denver Film Festival.
The Denver Post reports that Hickenlooper appears "to have died of natural causes" and that no foul play is suspected.
Hickenlooper's cousin, Denver mayor John Hickenlooper, said in a statement Saturday, "Shock and sadness do not begin to describe our emotions. We are devastated. George had immense creative talents and cinematic gifts, but he was so much more than that to us and all of his family."
Hickenlooper's credits include the making-of Apocalypse Now documentary, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, the Andy Garcia/Mick Jagger male escort picture, The Man From Elysian Fields, and the short film Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade, which was later expanded into a feature film by Billy Bob Thornton.
The Starz Film Festival will be "dedicated in its entirety" to Hickenlooper, according to festival director festival director Britta Erickson.
Casino Jack stars Kevin Spacey as lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Poster Comment:
The timing of this is very suspicious, a few days before the election.
47 years old, "died of natural causes"? In Denver? What a coincidence.