Southampton - Famed documentary filmmaker, George Hickenlooper, who's recent film "Casino Jack" was a screened as a spotlight film at the 2010 Hamptons International Film Festival just a few short weeks ago, died on October 29, 2010, in his sleep of an apparent heart attack. He was 47 years old.

His first feature length documentary film, "Hearts of Darkness" examined the making of the award winning, 1979 film "Apocolypse Now." "Casino Jack," Hickenlooper's last film, which will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in December 2010, stars Kevin Spacey as a corrupt lobbyist who swindles millions of dollars from Native Americans and labor workers.

Hickenlooper was born on May 25, 1963 in Saint Louis, Missouri, and later attended Yale University. He died in Denver, Colorado peacefully in his sleep, while visiting his cousin, Mayor of Denver, John Hickenlooper. His wife, Suzanne, son Charles, younger brother, and parents survive him.