Madonna honors Evita director Alan Parker after the Oscar-nominated filmmaker dies at the age of 76

Madonna reflected on one of the highlights of her unparalleled career on Friday, upon receiving some unfortunate news.

After learning of the death of her Evita director Alan Parker on Friday, the Queen of Pop, 61, took to her Instagram with a lovely gallery of photos from the period when they made the 1996 film, which won Madonna a Golden Globe Award for best actress.

‘I was so sad to hear about the passing of Alan Parker. One of the greatest directors i ever worked with on the film Evita,’ she wrote. 

‘He taught me so much, believed in me, pushed me to my limits and made an incredible film! Thank you! ♥️’ she continued, adding a film camera emoji and the hashtags #alanparker #evita.

Evita was the film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice Broadway sensation, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1980.

The 1996 film, also following the life of First Lady of Argentina Eva Peron, co-starred Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce and went on to be honored with several accolades as well. 

In addition to Madonna’s Golden Globe, the film won Globes for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and Best Original Song – Motion Picture.

Evita was also recognized at the Academy Awards in 1997, winning Webber and Rice the Oscar for Best Music, Original Song for the song You Must Love Me, which was created expressly for the movie.

It was also nominated for cinematography, art direction, sound and editing. 

Parker received a Golden Globe nomination for directing Evita, but that was far from his first honor.

The Matlock, England-born filmmaker was also the helmer of classic films such as Midnight Express and Mississippi Burning, both of which earned him Best Director Oscar nods.

Parker died aged 76 in London on Friday morning after battling a long illness, according to a family spokeswoman.  

The BAFTA fellow had also won critical acclaim for films such as Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Bugsy Malone.

Tributes have flooded in from across the film industry for Parker, with Hollywood players such as James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli saying she was ‘heartbroken at the news’ of Sir his passing.

‘It is an enormous loss to the world of cinema and a huge personal loss to his devoted family and friends who loved and admired him,’ she also said.