Crystal R.
Emery, an American film director and producer, died on May 5, 2026, in New Haven, Connecticut. She was 65.
Emery was also a filmmaker, playwright and theatre director, and founded URU The Right To Be, Inc., a nonprofit content production company. Born in 1961 in New Haven’s Brookside neighborhood, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in 1985 and later received an M.A. in media studies from The New School of Public Engagement. She was known for directing the 2010 documentary The Deadliest Disease in America and was featured in the Smithsonian’s #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit.
Crystal R. Emery, 65, American film director and producer (The Deadliest Disease in America).