Director David R. Ellis passed away earlier today at the age of 60 in Johannesburg, South Africa. No cause of death has been determined yet, although the filmmaker was in South Africa prepping his new feature Kite, which would have reunited him with his Snakes on a Plane star Samuel L. Jackson.

Born in Santa Monica, California on September 10, 1952, David R. Ellis began his career in the mid-1970s as an actor, stuntman, and stunt coordinator. He continued to work his way up the ladder as a second unit director on films such as Thunderheart, Clear and Present Danger, Waterworld, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and The Matrix Reloaded, just to name a few.

He made his feature directorial debut with Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco in 1996, followed by Final Destination 2, Cellular, Snakes on a Plane, Asylum, The Final Destination, and 2011's Shark Night 3D.

The director is survived by his wife Cindy, and their daughter, Tawny.