Ken Russell, who directed the film version of the Who‘s Tommy, has passed away at the age of eighty-four. The British filmmaker was known for his pioneering work in television and film, which was both praised and criticized for their flamboyant and controversial style.

Besides Tommy, which earned Pete Townshend an Oscar nomination for its score, Russell won an Academy Award for his 1969 film Women in Love, and directed other noteworthy films like The Devils (1971) and the science fiction film Altered States (1980).

Released in 1975, Tommy featured an all-star cast which included Jack Nicholson, Elton John, Tina Turner, and lead singer of the Who, Roger Daltrey.

As Rolling Stone reports, the director passed away after a series of strokes.

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