The horror legend had been battling brain cancer, according to a statement from his family. He was 76.
"It is with deep sadness we inform you that Wes Craven passed away at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 30th," the statement said. "Craven was surrounded by love, in the presence of his family at his Los Angeles home."
Born in Cleveland, Craven directed his first feature film, "The Last House on the Left," which he also wrote and edited, in 1972. In the years that followed, he is credited for revamping the horror genre, writing and directing such films as "A Nightmare on Elm Street," which ultimately spawned a franchise, "The Hills Have Eyes" and its sequels, and "Scream."
Still, the director also worked on non-horror films, including "Paris Je T'Aime" and "Music of the Heart." Being an horror-only director, he said, was never his intention.
