Horror Icon Wes Craven Dies at 76

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Horror movie maestro Wes Craven died on Sunday. He was 76.

Craven, best known for creating the hugely famous and influentialScream and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchises, passed away in Los Angeles after battling brain cancer.

Craven's family announced the news in a statement released to ET, sharing that the legendary director "was surrounded by love, in the presence of his family" when he died.

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"One of the most prolific filmmakers of all time, Craven was also a nature lover and committed bird conservationist, serving as a long-time member of the Audubon California Board of Directors," the family's statement continued. "He was born in Cleveland, OH on August 2nd, 1939. Craven was a longtime summer resident of Martha’s Vineyard where he moved permanently 3 years ago before returning to Los Angeles for work and health reasons."

When A Nightmare on Elm Street hit theaters in 1984, the world was introduced to the murderous dream monster Freddy Krueger, one of Craven's most iconic horror creations, which revitalized teen slasher genre and went one to change the face of horror for years.

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Craven is also responsible for scary movie classics Scream, The Hills Have Eyes and The People Under the Stairs -- among many others.

The beloved filmmaker is survived by his wife, Iya Lubunka, his son Johnathan Craven, his daughter Jessica Craven, his stepdaughter Nina Tarnawsky, and his three grandchildren.

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