LOS ANGELES, Nov 21: Director Robert Altman, who introduced an innovative ensemble style of filmmaking in such works as `MASH’, `Gosford Park’ and `Nashville’, has died at age 81, his production company said on Tuesday.

A spokesman said Altman died on Monday night, but gave no cause of death.

Altman revealed at the Academy Awards in March that he had a heart transplant when he was in his 70s but kept it a secret in order to keep working. He received a lifetime achievement award at the same ceremony.

Altman, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was 30 when he made his first feature film.

On the strength of that he moved to Hollywood, where his big break came with `MASH’, the 1970 black comedy about a medical unit during the Korean war. Its irreverent ad lib dialogue caught viewers by surprise and ushered in a new era of film making.—Reuters