John Mackenzie

John Leonard Duncan Mackenzie (22 May 1928 – 8 June 2011) was a Scottish film and television director. He worked in British film from the late 1960s, first as an assistant director and later as an independent director himself.

Early life Mackenzie was born in Edinburgh, where he attended Holy Cross Academy. He studied history at the University of Edinburgh.

Career Early career Mackenzie began his career with Ken Loach, acting as the latter's assistant director on such works as Up the Junction (1965) and Cathy Come Home (1966). This training allowed Mackenzie to begin a move into directing himself, as well as teaching him the skills of working on location with non-professional, local actors to a tight budget and schedule.

Directing, film and television Mackenzie initially worked on television plays following his apprenticeship with Loach. He collaborated with writer Peter McDougall on three episodes of Play for Today: Just Another Saturday (1975), The Elephants' Graveyard (1976) starring Billy Connolly and Just a Boys' Game (1979). Mackenzie still largely worked for television, aside from the independent production Made (1972), until in 1979 he directed the highly acclaimed A Sense of Freedom, also with a screenplay by McDougall, a BAFTA-nominated film about the Scottish gangster Jimmy Boyle.

The Long Good Friday, starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren, opened up opportunities to work in the United States. The Honorary Consul was adapted from Graham Greene's novel by Christopher Hampton. Also released as Beyond the Limit, the film re-united Mackenzie with Hoskins, as well as giving him the chance to direct Michael Caine and Richard Gere. Mackenzie's other films of this period include The Innocent (1985) and The Fourth Protocol (1987).

The greatest success that Mackenzie enjoyed in his American period was Ruby (1992),

Another film of this period was The Last of the Finest, a UK-US thriller starring Brian Dennehy. Mackenzie returned to the UK in 1993. He later directed films such as Deadly Voyage (1996) and When the Sky Falls (2000).

Death Mackenzie died following a stroke on 8 June 2011, some three weeks after his 83rd birthday. He is survived by his three daughters: Colyn, Katherine and Rebecca. His wife Wendy Marshall, whom he married in 1956, predeceased him.

Filmography As Assistant Director As Director: Film As Director: Television