Robert Altman, an influential American filmmaker, died on Tuesday, November 20, 2006 at the age of 81. Altman's prolific career began at a local television station in Kansas City in the 1950s and continued until his death. Along the way, he directed over 50 feature films, earned over 20 nominations for Academy Awards, 5 Oscar nominations, and was the recipient of an Honorary Academy Award in 2006. Altman was responsible for transforming independent filmmaking in America, leading the way from position pictures to more personal and revealing films. He was responsible for creating some of the most iconic films of a generation, including MASH (1970), Nashville (1975), The Player (1992), and Gosford Park (2001). All of his films featured unorthodox and innovative camera techniques, and his use of overlapping dialogue and multi-track sound were considered revolutionary for their time. Altman is survived by his wife, Kathryn, and six children - Christine, Robert, Michael, Matthew, Stephen, and Crai - from previous marriages. He will be remembered for his many contributions to the film industry.