Chuck Russell, who helped launch several notable careers as the director of genre films including 1994’s “The Mask” as well as “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors,” died Wednesday in the San Diego area. He was 74.

His death was confirmed by his attorney. The local fire department had responded to his house for the report of an unconscious man, according to TMZ.

Russell started out writing screenplays and working as a production manager and assistant director on independent films. He met Frank Darabont while working as an executive producer on “Hell Night,” and went on to collaborate with him.

He wrote the script for Dennis Quaid-starrer “Dreamscape,” directed by Joseph Ruben. Russell then made his directing debut on “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3,” which helped revitalize the franchise and grossed more than the first two installments as well as launching Patricia Arquette’s career. He went on to helm the cult favorite remake of “The Blob.”

For 1994’s blockbuster “The Mask,” he cast Cameron Diaz in her first movie and made Jim Carrey a household name. The film earned an Oscar nomination for visual effects.

Carrey remembered Russell in a statement, saying “I consider it a privilege to have worked with Chuck Russell, who during the shooting of ‘The Mask,’ created an ebullient, childlike atmosphere of wonder and camaraderie on his set. The entire cast and crew were touched and inspired by his playfulness. Every one of us has been many years blessed by that buoyant and timeless moment. I consider ‘The Mask’ one of the jewels of my creative life. Thank you, Chuck.”

Russell’s next films were “Eraser,” with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and “The Scorpion King,” the first leading role for Dwayne Johnson.

After several years of hiatus, Russell returned to direct “I Am Wrath” with John Travolta, the Indian action-adventure film “Junglee” and “Paradise City” with Bruce Willis and Travolta.

In 2024, he directed a remake of “Witchboard,” and told Variety at the time, “We have to humanize these things, whether it’s action or comedy or drama,” he says. “You gotta get into your performers’ heads. You gotta get their actual personality into their performances.”

He recently announced two productions with his AI company Neumorphic, “Hyperia” and “b,” which the company said were “built with generative AI across their entire production pipeline.”