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Collaborators and friends are paying tribute to late director David Leland. Leland’s agency Casarotto Ramsay & Associates confirmed that Leland died on Christmas Eve at the age of 82,

_The Hollywood Reporter_ and Deadline reported.  Several actors who worked on his films throughout his five-decade career shared statements to honor the filmmaker, including Liam Neeson, who

worked with Leland on the 1990 film _The Big Man, _aka_ Crossing the Line_. “David was a dream to work with,” Neeson, 71, said. “He was a real collaborator; he genuinely loved and admired

actors. We formed a close bond. I loved his mischievous sense of humor.”  “You are always in my heart, old friend,” he added. “See you down the road.” Pierce Brosnan, who worked closely with

Leland on his first stage production of _The Red Devil Battery Sign _at The Round House, said the director “holds a mighty place in my heart,” according to Deadline. “I was just out of

Drama Centre where David was also an alumni,” Brosnan said. “It was the thrill of my young lifetime to be cast as McCabe, working with David and Tennessee. David will forever be an essential

part of my story and of all who knew and loved him.” NEVER MISS A STORY — SIGN UP FOR PEOPLE'S FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE BEST OF WHAT PEOPLE HAS TO OFFER, FROM

JUICY CELEBRITY NEWS TO COMPELLING HUMAN INTEREST STORIES. Tim Roth recalled in a statement to Deadline that Leland “was there at the very beginning of this crazy adventure.” Leland wrote

the first movie Roth was ever in, called _Made in Britain_. “He changed my life, and I love him for it. I’ll keep him with me always,” he said. Leland was born on April 20, 1941, in the U.K.

and had initially trained to become an actor at the Central Speech of School and Drama, according to IMDb.  He garnered several small film credits before entering the theater world, working

as a manager and director at the Crucible Theatre. While working in theater, he got to work with emerging actors like Brosnan, giving him his first onstage opportunity. He also worked with

_Monty Python_ actors Michael Palin and Terry Jones. In 1991, he also directed the stage musical of _A Tribute to the Blues Brothers,_ which played on the West End. After several years, his

career focus turned from stage to screen, writing several screenplays including _Made in Britain_ (1982), _Birth of a Nation_ (1983) and _Mona Lisa_ (1986). He went on to work on _Wish You

Were Here _(1987) starring Emily Lloyd, which was the first film he directed. The film helped Leland win several awards, including the BAFTA for best original screenplay and the FIPRESCI

prize at the Cannes Film Festival.  Leland also directed _The Big Man_ (1990) and _Land Girls_ (1998). He then moved on to TV, directing an episode for HBO’s _Band of Brothers._ His final

credit on IMDb shows that he was a writer and director for the Showtime drama _The Borgias_.