Wolfgang Petersen, 'The NeverEnding Story' and 'Das Boot' director, dies at 81

1997 filepic of Wolfgang Petersen in Munich, Germany. The German director, who achieved international fame with films 'Das Boot', 'Outbreak' and 'Air Force One', has died from pancreatic cancer. He was 81. – Photo: Reuters

German director Wolfgang Petersen, who achieved international fame with films Das Boot, Outbreak and Air Force One, has died from pancreatic cancer, a spokeswoman said. He was 81.

Petersen, who directed Hollywood A-listers including Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman, George Clooney, Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt over a career spanning five decades, died in Los Angeles on Friday.