Director Robert Altman dies

Robert Altman, the caustic and irreverent satirist behind M*A*S*H, Nashville and The Player who made a career out of bucking Hollywood management and story conventions, died at a Los Angeles Hospital, his Sandcastle 5 Productions Company said today.

He was 81.

The director died last night, Joshua Astrachan, a producer at Altman's Sandcastle 5 Productions in New York City, said.

The cause of death was not disclosed.

A news release was expected later today, Astrachan said.