“He was a friend, creative partner and a big brother to me,” Nathan Ross, a partner at Wally’s production company CrazyRose, said in a statement. “The maestro will be greatly missed, but it is comforting to know his beautiful style and the impressive work he has shared with the world.”
The director began working on Canadian music videos and short subjects, also known by its English title “Black List”, before making his feature debut with the French-language film “List noir”.
His breakthrough in the United States was “Dallas Buyers Club”, a 2013 film based on the true story of an AIDS patient who becomes a distributor of experimental treatments. Although Wally’s direction was not recognized by the Academy, the film was nominated for Best Picture, while stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto both won Oscars for their performances.
Director Jean-Marc Vallée accepts the Outstanding Directing Award for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special on the “Big Little Lies” stage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California .
Valli entered television production in 2017 as an executive producer for the HBO drama “Big Little Lies.” He also directed the entire first season of the series, winning an Emmy. Valli later executive produced the series “Sharp Objects” for HBO as well, and directed each episode. According to Deadline, Wally and Ross signed a new development deal with HBO in April.
Valli said in a 2019 video for The Hollywood Reporter that he was very careful about selecting the projects he was willing to take on. “Choosing your film is about choosing your lifestyle,” said Wali. “Would you be happy to wake up in the morning, do this and serve Him?”