Tinto Brass, the Italian director of the 1979 movie “Caligula,” has passed away. He was 93.

Brass died in Rome on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 4, his wife, Caterina Varzi, and his children, Bonifacio and Beatrice, told the Italian news agency ANSA . For now, the family is planning a strictly private funeral.

What Was Tinto Brass’ Cause of Death?

It hasn’t been made public. The family’s announcement didn’t say how he died, and they haven’t shared any other details. We’ll update this story if that changes.

He had been sick for a long time, Italian film outlet Cinematografo reported. A stroke in 2010 left him in a wheelchair, according to ANSA, and his health kept him from going to the Venice Film Festival in person this year.

Venice honored him anyway. The day before the festival opened in September, it screened a restored 4K version of his 1967 film “Col cuore in gola” (“Deadly Sweet”). Varzi went in his place and read a message from him.…