Legendary ad director Hugh Hudson has passed away.

Hugh Hudson passed away at the age of 86. While most people know his name from his Oscar-winning film "Chariots of fire", here at adland, we know him better as a legendary commercial director. And I do mean legendary. Hugh won six Cannes Golden Lions and two Grand Prix. In 2003, Hudson was given a special Cannes Lions award on the 50th Anniversary of the Cannes Lions, an award given only to directors who have won the Grand Prix more than once. His first Grand Prix win was for Levi's "Walking behinds" in 1972.

He directed Rutger Hauer for Guinness, Joan Collins, and Leonard Rossiter for Cinzano. He created iconic Benson & Hedges ads.

He's survived by his wife, Maryam d’Abo, and by his son, Thomas, from a previous marriage to the artist Susan Michie.

He even parodied his own work for Silverjet, as 600 million people had seen the original British Airways "Globe" advert.

Coty L'Aimant "French Lesson"

This advert picked up the Grand Prix at the Cannes Lion awards.

Courage Best Bitter - "Gercha" (1980)

Hugh won an Arrow award in the UK for this catchy little musical ad.

Benson and Hedges - Iguana / Swimming pool

Intercity - Britains Railway / Night Mail 1988

One of my absolute favorite ads ever is Fiat's "hand built by robots" which Hugh directed in 1979. Ironically he had to hustle past the striking factory workers who were protesting robots taking their jobs.

Fiat Strada - Handbuilt by robots - (1979)

The British Airways ad, which was edited to various markets, and to add new uniforms, aired for almost a decade in 80 countries around the world. In our collection here, a bunch of people who were in the ad have made comments about it.

British Airways - Bringing people together / Globe

British Airways - Island - (1995) 1:30 (UK)

Benson & Hedges - Salvage (1979) 2:00 (UK)

Guinness - "I may be some time" Rutger Hauer (1993)

Cinzano - "Aeroplane" - (1979) (UK)