Hunter Lurie death: Film editor son of Hollywood writer Rod Lurie dies suddenly aged 27

Hunter Lurie, pictured here as a student, died after suffering a "massive cardiac arrest" aged 27: Rod Lurie/Facebook
Hunter Lurie, pictured here as a student, died after suffering a "massive cardiac arrest" aged 27: Rod Lurie/Facebook

The son of Hollywood writer-director Rod Lurie has died aged 27, his father has said.

Hunter Lurie, an up and coming film editor, died suddenly after going into cardiac arrest while attending a music festival in Michigan.

Born on 6 October 1990 to Rod Lurie and Gretchen Lurie - the director of admissions at the Chandler School in Pasadena - he worked for Union Editorial as an assistant editor on commercials for several major accounts.

He graduated from Campbell Hall School in Studio City in 2009, and then from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in TV, radio and film.

As well as work on commercials for companies such as Honda, Apple, Lexus, Adidas and Fox Sports, he was involved in the Imaginary Friends Society campaign - 20 animated shorts created for the Pediatric Brain Tumour Foundation - which explored cancer-related issues for children facing the diagnosis. The project won two gold lions at last month's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity,

Lurie's father confirmed the news in a post on Facebook, writing: "We are devastated to have to announce that our son passed away at 12.31am on 2 July at Mercy Health hospital in Michigan. He had suffered a massive cardiac arrest.

"He died with great peace and dignity and was surrounded my family and friends including his beloved sister Paige. It was both profoundly sad and beautiful, like a storm quieting. There was crying. There was hugging. If Hunter saw the moment in a movie he would've rolled his eyes."

He added: "There as no love as deep as that you have for your child. We now understand that truth with greater clarity than ever before."

Friends and fans also paid tribute. Actress and author Mara Wilson, who starred in the beloved children's film Matilda, expressed her condolences to Hunter's father on Twitter, as did respected film and TV critics including Ton F van Dihjk, Eric Vilas-Boas and Eric D Snider, and actor/singer Gregg Henry.

Film critic Christy Lemire tweeted that she was "choking back tears" reading about the news of his death: "I considered [him] a friend, although we never actually met. We were often at the same screenings, and now I wish dearly we'd said hello. He loved film, was engaged & engaging, and he knew how to use this site for good."

Entertainment reporter Jeff Sneider wrote: "My heart goes out to his friends and family, including his father, director Rod Lurie."

Hunter's family will hold a memorial service for him in autumn.