Hollywood director Robert Altman passed away Monday evening at the age of 81.

Altman’s career spanned an impressive half century, creating film classics such as Mash, Gosford Park, McCabe and Mrs. Miller and The Player.

Altman pursued many projects that other filmmakers didn’t want to take including the Korean War Comedy Mash which inspired the hit 1970s’ series.

He received an honourary award at the 2006 Oscars.

He died in a Los Angeles hospital but a spokesman for Altman’s production company didn’t disclose the cause of death.

Robert Altman is survived by his wife Kathryn and five children.

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