Peter Medak spent more than six decades making audiences squirm, think, and occasionally question the sanity of the people on screen. The Hungarian-British director behind The Changeling, The Ruling Class, and The Krays died peacefully in Los Angeles on October 27, 2026, at 88. Now, one of cinema’s most distinctive storytellers, Guillermo del Toro, is paying tribute to the filmmaker whose work and wisdom left a lasting impression.

Del Toro’s moving farewell celebrates not only Medak’s cinematic mastery but also the sharp intellect and genuine friendship that made him unforgettable.

Guillermo del Toro has paid an emotional tribute to Peter Medak, remembering the late Hungarian-British filmmaker as both a master of suspense and a cherished friend. Following Medak’s death at 88, the Oscar-winning director took to X to celebrate his extraordinary talent and intellect. His heartfelt message reflected an admiration that extended well beyond their shared profession.

“We crossed paths plenty of times at the DGA and I always came out feeling blessed by his intellect,” he said.

Del Toro’s admiration for Medak went back years, particularly through the director’s 1980 supernatural horror classic The Changeling. One could easily conjure up the image from the BAFTA Awards in London years ago, where del Toro reportedly rushed up to Medak to proclaim him a mentor and praise the film as a masterpiece. The encounter reflected just how deeply Medak’s atmospheric storytelling had influenced a fellow filmmaker whose own work would leave a considerable mark on cinema.

Fans may also know that influence even found its way into del Toro’s Crimson Peak, which paid homage to The Changeling through its unsettling use of a rolling red ball. In his X post, del Toro remembered Medak as a gentleman, a film scholar, and a sweet friend, while praising his ability to weave suspense masterfully. The tribute celebrated not only Medak’s cinematic legacy but also the warmth and wisdom that made their friendship so meaningful.

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Guillermo del Toro can keep sounding the alarm about the world’s horrors, knowing his own cinematic hero had already sung his praises.

Peter Medak’s admiration for Guillermo del Toro was not simply a case of an established filmmaker enjoying praise from a devoted admirer. The Hungarian-British director also held del Toro’s work in high regard, valuing the recognition because it came from a fellow filmmaker whose artistic judgment he respected. That mutual appreciation made their connection particularly meaningful.

"It's just nice to hear that from fellow directors whose work I love and respect," he once told Entertainment Weekly.

Medak was especially touched that del Toro understood the unsettling brilliance of The Changeling, a horror classic built on grief, atmosphere, and psychological tension rather than cheap scares. Those same sensibilities would surface in del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone and Crimson Peak, making their shared artistic vision all the more striking. In mourning Medak, del Toro is remembering not just an influence, but a fellow master who admired his work in return.

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