Melissa Mathison, the ex-wife of actor Harrison Ford and screenwriter who crafted the enchanting worlds of iconic family films including ET The Extra Terrestrial, has died after a battle with neuroendocrine cancer.
The 65-year-old Los Angeles native had a humble, but high-profile start - her first credited work was in assistant roles on The Godfather: Part II and Apocalypse Now - before she broke out with her script for The Black Stallion.
She often collaborated with producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall and worked with directors including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Frank Oz.
Her last credited work is on Spielberg's adaptation of Roald Dahl's The BFG, which comes out next year.
Ms Mathison was married to Ford for 21 years before they divorced in 2004. They have two children.
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