Peter Yates Passes Away

Peter Yates, best known in the movie world for directing the iconic McQueen classic Bullitt, has passed away at age 81.

In a career that included four Academy Award nominations, Yates directed such screen legends as Peter O'Toole, Michael Caine, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Mitchum, Raquel Welsh, Jacqueline Bissett and Steve McQueen.

Born in Southern England in 1929, Yates, like McQueen, trained as an actor, performed in repertory theater and also raced cars, before finally moving into directing, his first film being the 1963 classic Summer Holiday starring fellow Brit and pop legend Cliff Richards.

Peter is survived by his wife and two children.