Originally appeared on E! Online
Hollywood is mourning the loss of a talented director.
Diego Borella, an assistant director of Emily in Paris, died on Aug. 22 while filming the fifth season of the Netflix show in Venice, Italy. He was 47.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the sudden passing of a member of the Emily in Paris production family,” a Paramount Television Studios spokesperson said in an Aug. 23 statement to E! News. “Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
While preparing to film a final scene inside Venice’s historic Hotel Danieli, local outlets reported that Borella collapsed around 7 p.m. local time. Medical staff on set attempted to revive Borella, per multiple outlets, but he died at the scene.
A local doctor, who had rushed to the scene, confirmed the assistant director’s death, per La Repubblica, and stated that he likely died of a “sudden heart attack.”
“Our ambulance arrived at 18.42 (on Thursday evening),” the Venice health service said, per The Independent. “Medics made attempts to resuscitate him. But in the end all efforts proved fruitless. At around 19.30, he was pronounced deceased.”
Production on the final episode of show’s fifth season was temporarily suspended, according to Il Messaggero, following the incident.
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The Venetian professional had trained in Rome, London and New York, per La Repubblica, and was well-known for his work in cinema, visual arts and literature. In the months leading up to his death, he had also dedicated himself to writing poetry, fairy tales and children’s stories.
“The last time we saw each other was at a dinner in Paris with his best friend and mine, whom I called on Thursday: he was devastated,” Borella’s longtime friend Mattia Berto told Spanish newspaper El Mundo. “Diego had a great sense of humor, he was brilliant and very talented. His was a young interrupted life, so there are not many words. Just a great sadness.”
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Just days before his tragic death, Lily Collins—who plays protagonist Emily Cooper in the comedy drama—shared a glimpse into her experience filming the show on location.
Alongside photos of herself standing on a pier in Venice and enjoying a boat ride with costar Ashley Park (Mindy Chen), the 36-year-old captioned an Aug. 19 Instagram post, “Joy ride to and from work with the best…”
And in the comments, Ashley gushed about the memories they had made while in the Italian city.
“Caption, chapeau, cherished memories game STRONG,” the Joy Ride actress wrote. “You KNOW how much I love you. Another adventure for the books.”
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