Actor and director Charles Officer dead aged 49-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Charles Officer has died aged 49 (Picture: Getty)

Charles Officer has died aged 49, it has been confirmed.

Officer was a Canadian actor and director, best known for his breakout movie Nurse.Fighter.Boy.

The independent flick – released in 2009 – stars Karen LeBlanc as Jude, a widowed single mother undergoing treatment for sickle cell disease.

His latest project was Akilla’s Escape, a crime noir about a drug dealer who finds his moral code challenged when he interrupts an armed robbery and captures one of the gang members, who is a 15-year-old boy.

Other projects of his included Mighty Jerome and Unarmed Verses.

Officer died after suffering complications from a heart attack at his home in Toronto on Friday (December 1).

Officer suffered a heart attack at his home (Picture: Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock)

Tributes have flooded social media following the sad news of the filmmaker’s death (Picture: Shawn Goldberg/REX/Shutterstock)

He also previously struggled with a lengthy illness, although details are unknown.

In December 2022, he had a lung transplant.

Following the sad news of Officer’s death, the Toronto Black Film Festival wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘We’re deeply saddened by the loss of Charles Officer.

‘His impactful work in film and storytelling touched many hearts, and we were honored to present many of his films and welcomed him at TBFF back in 2013.

‘May his legacy continue to inspire us all.’

The National Film Board of Canada added: ‘Today, we mourn the passing of Canadian filmmaker Charles Officer and extend our sympathies to his loved ones.’

Friends and colleagues also paid tribute, with Katie Boland, a Canadian actress and writer, posted: ‘To say I’m devastated by the loss of my dear friend and one of my favourite people in the world Charles Officer is an understatement.

‘Rest in power, Charles. I hope I can live with half as much generosity as you did. We are all lucky and heartbroken.’

Alongside some personal photos of Officer, she added: ‘I took these pictures of Charles over a decade ago for my book. It’s how I always see him in my minds eye – and he pops into my mind all the time. I’ll miss you forever, friend.’

Clammy Davis Jr penned: ‘I heard this morning about the death of filmmaker Charles Officer, whom I had the joy of working with on the CBC doc “The Skin We’re In.” I asked Charles if he could make time for the film, and I’m so fortunate he said yes. Working with him and his team was delightful’.

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