Writer-director John Hughes, the man who gave helped give us 1980s teen classics like “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Pretty in Pink,” and “Sixteen Candles” died Thursday of a heart attack. He was 59.

Hughes was on a morning walk in Manhattan when the heart attack struck.

A Lansing, Mich. native, Hughes began as an ad writer and ascended to helming Hollywood films mostly concerning teen angst and rebellion.

Hughes’ work helped make stars out of what would become the “brat pack” including Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, and many other young actors.

He was also a prolific and successful writer with hits like “Home Alone,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” and “Uncle Buck” credited to his name.

His last directing credit was 1991′s “Curly Sue.”