Patrice Chereau Photo: CFP

Patrice Chereau, the celebrated French theater, opera and cinema director whose works ranged from the epic 1994 film La Reine Margot to the seminal 1976 production of Wagner's Ring Cycle, has died aged 68.

"He had an extraordinary­ vitality right until the end," said Elisabeth Tanner, co-director of the Artmedia agency that represented Chereau, as she confirmed his death after a long illness.

Chereau made 10 films including the Oscar-nominated and Cannes jury prize winner La Reine Margot.

He was considered one of the greats of French theater, but made his name outside his home country with his 1976 staging of Wagner's Ring Cycle at the Bayreuth opera festival.

French President Francois Hollande said in a statement, "The cultural world is in mourning and France loses an artist ... who is its pride across the world."

Born November 2, 1944 in western France's Lezigne, Chereau grew up in Paris.

As one of the most multi-faceted directors of his generation, Chereau never stopped moving, criss-crossing between performing arts forms, sometimes even taking on the occasional role as an actor.

AFP