`Kelly Heroes`, `Where Eagles Stare` director Brian Hutton dies at 79

Los Angeles: `Kelly Heroes` helmer Brian G Hutton has passed away due to a heart attack. He was 79. Hutton, who started his career as an actor, died on August 19 in LA. He is survived by wife, Victoria, said The Hollywood Reporter.

The director is also known for his 1980 dark cop drama `The First Deadly Sin`, which starred Frank Sinatra and Clint Eastwood in the World War II film `Where Eagles Dare` (1968) with Clint Eastwood. Hutton and Eastwood returned with a World War II setting for `Kelly`s Heroes` (1970), about a group of soldiers who sneak off and attempt to rob a bank behind enemy lines. The filmmaker quit movie business after directing `High Road to China` (1983) starring Tom Selleck. He then moved to real estate. A native of New York City, Hutton studied acting at the Actors Studio and was brought to California by producer Hal Wallis. The late director acted in films like `Fear Strikes Out` (1957), `Gunfight at the O.K. Corral`, `King Creole (1958)`, `The Case Against Brooklyn` (1958), `Last Train From Gun Hill` (1959) and `The Interns` (1962) and TV shows `Gunsmoke`, `Perry Mason`, and `State Trooper`, among others.