British film director Peter Yates dies at 81

English film director and producer Peter Yates has passed away in London at the age of 81 following a long illness, his agent Judy Daish has revealed in a statement.

The Oscar-nominated filmmaker is best known for movies including Breaking Away, The Dresser and, most notably, Bullitt, the 1968 hit which starred Steve McQueen.

One of the greatest car chases in cinema history was part of the movie, which featured the police detective character played by McQueen driving a dark green Mustang on the hilly streets of San Francisco.

Bullitt was Yates' first American film and he went on to produce many more movies including John and Mary, Murphy's War, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, The House on Carroll Street and The Run of the Country.

Breaking Away, which was released in 1979, and 1983's The Dresser, earned him his four academy award nominations.

He is survived by a wife, two children and two grandchildren.