Anthony Minghella dead at 54

British film director Anthony Minghella - who won a Best Director Oscar in 1996 for The English Patient and penned Matt Damon classic The Talented Mr Ripley - has died aged 54.

Anthony's agent Judy Daish confirmed the sad news today, but further details are not yet available.

Minghella also directed 2003's Cold Mountain, which won an Oscar for its Supporting Actress Renée Zellweger.

His most recent movie was The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which he recently finished filming in Botswana, reports CNN.

Initial reports suggest that he suffered a brain hemorrhage during a routine neck operation at Charing Cross Hospital in London, although this has not yet been confirmed.

Film producer and friend Lord Puttnam said the industry would be "very shocked" to lose their "very well-loved" colleague.

"He said in a lecture last week that he saw himself as a writer who happened to direct, which I think was probably right," he told BBC News.

"He started as a writer, he was not a stylist as a director. He saw himself as a storyteller and his films were very well told, beautifully made and beautifully acted."

Minghella was married to Hong Kong-born choreographer Carolyn Choa.

He has been chairman of the British Film Institute since 2003.