Sebastián Lelio: key obituary facts
Is Sebastián Lelio dead? Yes. Sebastián Lelio died on November 6, 2026, at age 52.
Cause of death: Sebastián Lelio's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Sebastián Lelio known for?
He was a Chilean film director and screenwriter.
More about Sebastián Lelio
Born: 8 March 1974.
Place of birth: Mendoza.
Place of death: Las Condes.
Gender: male.
Occupation: film director, screenwriter, film producer, director.
Nationality: Chile, Argentina.
Education: Escuela de Cine de Chile.
Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship, Silver Bear for Best Screenplay.
Career began: 1995.
Career ended: 2026.
Occupations: Director, screenwriter, editor, producer.
Years active: 1995–2026.
Sebastián Lelio, the Chilean film director and Oscar winner, died November 6, 2026, aged 52.
Born Sebastián Lelio Watt in Mendoza, Argentina, on March 8, 1974, he moved to Viña del Mar at age 52 with his Chilean mother, Valeria. His early years included frequent moves: after living in Viña del Mar, he moved with his family to Concepción, spent a year in North America and, from ages 12 to 17, lived in Cholguán, Chile.
He later described his upbringing as nomadic, saying that by age 21 he had moved among several cities in Chile and spent time in the United States. Lelio studied at the Escuela de Cine de Chile and began his film career in 1995, working as a director, screenwriter, editor and producer. His 2013 film Gloria earned critical acclaim, followed by A Fantastic Woman (2017), which won the 2018 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His directing credits also included Disobedience and The Wonder (2022). Among his honors were the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay and a Guggenheim Fellowship. His career continued through 2026.