Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Film producer and writer, Perry Henzell(right), with friends. - Claudine Housen/staff photographer

Filmmaking legend, Perry Henzell, died in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, yesterday morning after a seven-year battle with cancer. He was 70.

Born in Annotto Bay, St Mary, Henzell became a pioneer in Jamaica's film industry.

Henzell is best known as the director-producer of The Harder They Come, the all Jamaican-made 1972 classic.

The film propelled singer, Jimmy Cliff, into superstardom and is one of the most beloved and longest-running of all international cult favourites.

His daughter, Justine Henzell, told The Gleaner yesterday that her father was involved in showbiz all his life.

He started off in London at the BBC and, after some years there, came back to Jamaica where he started Vista Productions, in Kingston, making commercials.

Although his family, which includes his three children, Justine, Toni-Ann and Jason, is coping with the tragic news, they expressed pride in his accomplishments.

"He's a pioneer. He certainly was the father of the film industry in Jamaica. He was a proud Jamaican," Ms. Henzell stated. She added that her family would have liked him to remembered as a true legend.

His second film, No Place Like Home, is slated to be shown at this weekend's Flashpoint Film Festival, in Negril. It premiered at the 31st annual Toronto International Film Festival, in September.