Share. The horror director produced such classics as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. The horror director produced such classics as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream.

Acclaimed horror writer-director Wes Craven has died from brain cancer, the Hollywood Reporter reports. He was 76.

Craven was internationally known for his horror films, including such classics of the genre as the 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. A Nightmare on Elm Street saw the creation of the iconic horror character Freddy Krueger, who scared and thrilled audiences in various films, TV shows and video games.

Craven started his Hollywood horror career in 1972 with the release of Last House on the Left. He is also responsible for the horror classic The Hills Have Eyes (1977) and the comic book adaptation of Swamp Thing (1982).

A Nightmare on Elm Street revolutionized the teen horror film in 1984, and the franchise went on to spawn several sequels not directed by Craven. In 1994, Craven returned to helm Wes Craven's New Nightmare, a send-up of the horror genre that included Craven appearing as himself.

He continued to make meta horror films with the Scream series of movies, which were met with huge success at the box office. 1996's Scream is credited with launching renewed interest in teen horror films. Craven directed all four of the movies in that series, including Scream 4 in 2011.

Other notable Craven films include The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), Shocker (1989), The People Under the Stairs (1991) and Music of the Heart (1999).