Peter Medak, Director of ‘The Changeling’ and ‘The Krays,’ Dies at 88
Peter Medak, the Hungarian-British filmmaker whose work ranged from the ghost story The Changeling to the dark comedy The Ruling Class and the crime drama The Krays, has died at the age of 88. His family announced his death through The Hollywood Reporter, JoBlo reported, and he died in Los Angeles on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
From Budapest to the British film industry
Medak was born in Budapest on 23 December 1937, That Eric Alper reported, citing The Hollywood Reporter. He left Hungary for the United Kingdom during the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, That Eric Alper reported, and entered the film industry at the lowest rung, working his way up from trainee roles before moving into directing.
His first feature film was Negatives, released in 1968, Bloody Disgusting reported. He directed 27 feature films over more than five decades, Bloody Disgusting reported, alongside dozens of television episodes.
The Ruling Class and The Changeling
Two early films fixed Medak’s reputation. The Ruling Class, released in 1972 and starring Peter O’Toole as a delusional English aristocrat, became a cult favourite, That Eric Alper reported. The Changeling, released in 1980 and starring George C. Scott as a composer who moves into a house with a dark history after losing his wife and daughter, remains one of the most admired supernatural films of its era, JoBlo reported.
Medak recalled in a 2018 interview, as recounted by JoBlo, that Steven Spielberg screened The Changeling for his crew while preparing Poltergeist, telling them it showed the atmosphere he wanted. The film has influenced generations of horror filmmakers, JoBlo reported.
Crime dramas and a long television career
Medak’s later feature work included The Krays, Let Him Have It, Romeo Is Bleeding with Gary Oldman, and Species II, JoBlo reported. He was known as a director performers trusted, Bloody Disgusting reported, and he moved freely between cinema and television.
His television credits included episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street, The Wire and Breaking Bad, JoBlo reported, as well as genre series including The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt, Carnivàle, Masters of Horror and Hannibal, Bloody Disgusting reported.
Family and legacy
Medak’s family said he died peacefully, Bloody Disgusting reported. He is survived by his children Christopher, Joshua, Karen and Cornelia, and by his grandchildren Sacha, Marlowe, Ryden, Oliver and Anders, The Hollywood Reporter reported, as cited by EntertainmentNow.
Across horror, black comedy, crime drama and television, Medak built a body of work that refused a single label.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, 28 October 2026 (via JoBlo, That Eric Alper and EntertainmentNow); JoBlo, 28 October 2026; Bloody Disgusting, 28 October 2026.