Legendary horror film director Wes Craven has passed away at the age of 76 after battling brain cancer.

Behind such classics as "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Scream," Craven had become a household name with cult status and also introduced the world to Johnny Depp who later became a global sensation. Craven went on to direct 3 sequels to the original "Scream" and also wrote several books.

Freddy Krueger was arguably one of the most iconic characters invented in the genre while the director singlehandedly turned horror into comedy thanks to the success of the Scream franchise.

The director had numerous TV projects in the works before he passed away at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday. "The Girl in the Photographs," which he was attached to as an exec producer, will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September.