MOSCOW (AP) — Mark Zakharov, a renowned Russian theater and film director whose productions have been widely acclaimed and loved by several generations of Russians, has died. He was 85.

Moscow's Lencom Theater, led by Zakharov for more than three decades, said he died in Moscow on Saturday. The cause of death wasn't immediately known.

Born in Moscow, Zakharov graduated from the capital's leading theater school in 1955 and worked as an actor before becoming a theater director a decade later. In 1973 he became the director of the Lenkom Theater, which he led until his death.

Many of Zakharov's theater productions have become iconic. He also won broad fame as a film director.

Zakharov is survived by his daughter, who is an actress. Funeral arrangements weren't immediately known.