Sergiu Nicolaescu dies in Bucharest at the age of 82

Sergiu Nicolaescu, Romanian filmmaker, actor and politician, has died in Bucharest aged 82.

The filmmaker suffered from heart and lung complications following surgery on his digestive system, the Elias hospital in Bucharest said.

Sergiu Nicolaescu directed more than 60 films in a career spanning five decades.

In 1967, Sergiu Nicolaescu earned widespread recognition in Romania with the first of his historical epics Dacii (The Dacians).

The film was entered into the 5th Moscow International Film Festival.

These series of films, glorifying the country’s past, found him fame with the Romanian public as well as favor with the Communist regime.

Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave) set in the 16th Century, has become a classic of Romanian cinema.

“A star of Romania has been extinguished,” said Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

As an actor, Sergiu Nicolaescu has starred in more than 30 of his own films, playing most notably the roles of the pro-Nazi marshal Ion Antonescu and former King Carol I in the 2012 film Carol I.

Sergiu Nicolaescu entered politics soon after the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989.

He was elected to the Romanian Senate in 1992 for the Social Democratic Party, but left politics in December 2012.

Sergiu Nicolaescu is survived by his wife Dana and his remains will be incinerated on Saturday.