Beastie Boys - Beastie Boys Video Director Ric Menello Dies

Menello passed away on Friday (01Mar13) after suffering a heart attack. No more details about his death were available as Wenn went to press.

The director/screenwriter is best known as the brains behind the Beastie Boys' iconic video for 1987 hit (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party), which he co-directed with his friend Adam Dubin.

The pair teamed up with the rap trio again on the video for No Sleep Till Brooklyn, as well as LL Cool J's Going Back to Cali.

Menello also found success as a Hollywood screenwriter, putting together the screenplay for Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow's 2008 film Two Lovers. He also wrote the script for Phoenix's new movie Lowlife, which is due for release later this year (13).

Tributes have poured in from Menello's friends in Hollywood, with director Darren Aronofsky remembering him in a post on Twitter.com, writing, "R.I.P. Ric Menello. Great film encyclopedic mind. If (I) ever needed a reference I'd call him at 4am and he would be awake and filled w (with) answers," while One Hour Photo moviemaker Mark Romanek posted a picture of his pal and added, "Awful news of Ric Menello's passing. A lovely soul. His vast movie knowledge was just one facet of his specialness."

Simone Reyes, who appeared in Menello's two Beastie Boys promos, writes, "RIP Ric Menello who directed me... Beastie Boys et all in Fight 4 UR Right 2 Party (sic) / No Sleep Till Brooklyn..."