'Towering Inferno' director John Guillermin dies at 89

LOS ANGELES (AP) - John Guillermin, a veteran British director best known for bringing to life big budget adventure films like "The Towering Inferno" and the 1976 "King Kong" has died. He was 89.

Guillermin died Sunday at his Topanga Canyon home. Producer and friend Nick Redman confirmed Guillermin's death. Guillermin had been ill for some time, but his death was unexpected, Redman said Wednesday.

Over the course of his long career, Guillermin directed numerous Hollywood legends, including Peter Sellers, Bette Davis, Paul Newman, Orson Welles and Fred Astaire.

Redman says Guillermin was underrated, "a great British character" and an "urbane, sophisticated, and cultivated guy." His last theatrical feature was "King Kong Lives" in 1986.

He is survived by a daughter, granddaughter and his wife of 16 years, Mary.