Photos: Wes Craven | 1939-2015

Director Wes Craven at his home in 2009. Over the course of his 40-year career, he created some of the horror genre’s most influential films.

Director Wes Craven acknowledges the audience as he receives the Visionary Award during Spike TV’s 2008 Scream Awards at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Director Wes Craven, left, and Robert Rodriguez pose at the premiere of “Scream 4” in Los Angeles in 2011.

Writer-director Wes Craven, best known for the horror franchises “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream,” has died after a battle with brain cancer.

Wes Craven with actress Courteney Cox, left, and actress Neve Campbell at the premiere of the Weinstein Company’s “Scream 4,” directed by Craven.

Wes Craven and horror author Stephen King appear at New York Comic Con in 2007 to promote Craven’s new movie, “The Hills Have Eyes 2.”