Legendary Australian film director George Miller dies at 79 after suffering heart attack

Veteran Australian director George T. Miller died on Saturday aged 79 in Melbourne after suffering a fatal heart attack.

The legendary filmmaker worked in the industry for five decades and directed the iconic Australian film The Man From Snowy River in 1982.

He moved to Hollywood in the early '90s and directed several popular animal-focused American movies including The NeverEnding Story II and Andre.

Miller was often confused with another Australian filmmaker of the same name who directed the Mad Max movies.

The Mad Max director spoke fondly of Miller and said he often received his fan-mail by mistake. 

Veteran Australian director George T. Miller (pictured) died on Saturday aged 79 in Melbourne after suffering a fatal heart attack

'When Snowy River hit the screens, a group of my mum's friends congratulated me for making such a lovely film and said it was better than Mad Max,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Miller was born in Scotland in 1943 and emigrated to Australia when he was four years old.

The Emmy nominee directed Australian actress Sigrid Thornton, 64, in five productions including The Last Outlaw miniseries based on bushranger Ned Kelly. 

The legendary filmmaker worked in the industry for five decades and directed the iconic Australian film The Man From Snowy River in 1982

Thornton paid tribute to Miller on Instagram by posting a photo of him working on a film set in the early '80s.

She wrote some moving words next to the snap: 'A dynamic collaborator with a crazy sense of humour.

'You told Australian stories through film and television and they will continue to inspire for many years to come.' 

Miller is survived by his son Harvey. 

He was often confused with Mad Max director George Miller (pictured) who said he often received his fan-mail by mistake

Miller's frequent leading lady Sigrid Thornton (pictured) paid tribute to him on Instagram by posting a photo of him working on a film set