British film director Anthony Minghella, who won an Oscar for "The English Patient," has died at the age of 54.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) quoted yesterday Minghella's agent as saying she could not provide details of how he died.

Film director David Puttnam described Minghella as "a storyteller in the classic British tradition" who was particularly good at inspiring actresses, adding that his death was "a shattering blow" to the industry.

Minghella, one of five children, grew up on the Isle of Wight where his family run a chain of ice cream shops. He began his career as a writer with his early radio plays winning several awards, and made his directorial debut in "Truly, Madly, Deeply," in 1991.

His other film credits include "Cold Mountain," "The Talented Mr Ripley," "Mr Wonderful" and "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency."

Minghella became chairman of the British Film Institute in 2003.

In 2005, Minghella directed his first opera, an English National Opera (ENO) production of Madame Butterfly, at the company's Coliseum home, in London.

Speaking yesterday, ENO artistic director John Berry said that by directing Madame Butterfly, Minghella had fulfilled "a burning ambition to direct opera."