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British film-maker Peter Yates, who directed such movies as Bullitt and Summer Holiday, has died aged 81. (See Related News Here)

The Greatest Car Chase in the History of Motion Pictures:

According to his agent, he died in London on Sunday after an illness.

Bullitt, released in 1968, featured a famous chase scene in which Steve McQueen drove a Ford Mustang through San Francisco.

Yates was nominated for the best director Oscar in 1980 for Breaking Away, and again in 1984 for The Dresser.

He is survived by his wife Virginia Pope, ason and a daughter.

The family will hold a private funeral, hisagent Judy Daish continued.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Yates started out as an actor before becoming an assistant director on suchfilms as The Guns of Navarone and A Taste of Honey.

He made his directorial debut in 1963 withCliff Richard vehicle Summer Holiday, going on to make episodes of The Saintand Danger Man.

In 1967 he wrote and directed Robbery, aheist film inspired by the Great Train Robbery of 1963.

A rare B&W interview of Peter Yates at the NY Institute of Technology (1972):
(NOTE : The Sound Quality is not always good but it is an interesting document on Yates vision on film)

Bullitt, his first US film, followed a year later, casting McQueen as the head of a police unit guarding a man about to testify against his mobster brother.

Following its success, Yates worked withMia Farrow and Dustin Hoffman on 1969 romantic drama John and Mary, and with Peter O'Toole on Murphy's War two years later.

His other films included The Friends of Eddie Coyle with Robert Mitchum, Mother, Jugs & Speed with Raquel Welch andThe Deep starring Jacqueline Bisset.

Yates' 1979 film Breaking Away - a coming-of-age film about a high school graduate who competes in a cycling race - received Oscar nominations for best director and best picture.

So did 1983 drama The Dresser, which also saw its stars Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay nominated by the Academy.

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