Lots of films are dedicated to, or in memory of someone.

But it’s not always clear why.

The card read Dedicated to our friend Kevin Cordasco.

After all, the dedications are there for a reason.

What I uncovered was some funny stories, mainly extremely sad ones, and some extremely moving dedications.

These stories are presented with due respect to everyone concerned.

Ive tried to stay clear of the more obvious ones (with one or two exceptions).

He was a professional diver, who died in 1990 at the age of 41.

Hed also worked with James Cameron onPiranha Part Two, many years earlier, and the two were friends.

He reportedly took his own life.

Dont go looking him up, though.

Kaufman is a fictional character in the film… Ech-Cheik was a composer who had put together scores for films such as OSS 117 and Mes Amis.

Ech-Cheik was a childhood friend ofThe Artists director Michel Hazanavicius.

This was a dedication to lyricist Howard Ashman, who also served as executive producer onBeauty And The Beast.

As it turns out, she was the inspiration for the first movie.

Sadly, this story doesnt have a happy ending.

Unbeknownst to Linklater at the time, Lehraupt died before she had a chance to see the first film.

She was just 24 years old.

Linklater wouldnt find out shed died for another 15 years or so.Slate reported the story in full, here.

THE BLING RING

Sofia Coppolas 2013 drama was the final cinematic work of Harris Savides.

Savides career as a cinematographer included films such asZodiac,American Gangster,MilkandThe Game.

He died of brain cancer at the age of 55, andThe Bling Ringis dedicated to him.

CARS

Pixars 2005 movieCarswas dedicated to the memory of Joe Ranft.

An incredible force in animation, hes sadly missed.

CLIFFHANGER

There are two dedications withCliffhanger.

One is for the mother of Mario Cassar, who funded the movie.

The other is Wolfgang Gullich, who worked as Sylvester Stallones stunt double on the movie.

He was killed in an automobile accident unrelated to the movie, once production was over.

But the film also features a dedication to Eliza Hutton.

She was Lees fiancee at the time of his death, and theyd planned to marry in 1993.

THE DARK KNIGHT

There are two dedications in the credits of Christopher NolansThe Dark Knight.

The credit reads In memory of our friends Heath Ledger & Conway Wickliffe.

He was a special effects technician, who died while filming a car chase on the movie.

DRAGONFLY

The Kevin Costner-headlined thriller from 2002 bears a dedicated to Katharine Curtiss.

Curtiss was married to Alan Curtiss, who was the assistant producer and first assistant director on the film.

THE EXPENDABLES 2

Come the end credits of Simon WestsExpendablessequel is a dedication to the memory of Kun Lui.

Lui was working as a stuntman on the movie, and died in an on-set accident that injured another.

He was working on the second unit of the film.

He was 26 years old.

FLIGHT

Edward Ed Limato died at the age of 73 in 2010, from complications resulting from pneumonia.

Robert Zemeckis dedicated his 2012 movie Flight to him.

There is also a tribute to him in the 2010 movie Unstoppable.

Meddings died while the film was in post-production, at the age of 64.

He was taken by cancer.

We dont make this up.

The 1965 Beatles movie,Help!, sports a dedication to Elias Howe.

JOHN Q

The Denzel Washington headlinedJohn Qhas a dedication at the end that reds For Sasha.

He received similar credits onCycloneandMillion Dollar Mystery, making up his final three films.

He was survived by his three children.

THE LION KING

Disneys biggest grossing hand drawn movie is dedicated to the memory of Frank Wells.

Wells was the Disney President and Chief Operating Officer from 1984 through to his untimely death in 1994.

He died at the age of 62 in a helicopter crash on his way back from a skiing trip.

His life was taken from him at such a young age by a variant of bone cancer.

Fran Walsh would write the songInto The West, as used inReturn Of The King, inspired by Duncan.

you’re free to find out more about him on the extended edition of the film on DVD.

He was only 33 years old.

MULHOLLAND DRIVE

David Lynch dedicated his cinematic puzzleMulholland Driveto Jennifer Syme.

Syme worked for Lynch for a while, and took a small role inLost Highway.

She died at the age of 28 back in 2001, following a motoring accident which killed her instantly.

MIRACLE

Disneys 2004 filmMiracle, starring Kurt Russell, was dedicated to the memory of Herb Brooks.

As the dedication read, he never saw it, he lived it.

This was the first Muppet film following Hensons tragically early death in 1990, at the age of 45.

He was one of only five performers to work on all five seasons ofThe Muppet Show.

He died of complications from AIDS, at the age of 40.

Harryhausen died in 2013, having made an unrivalled contribution to visual effects.

Put his work inClash Of The Titansagainst the recent, loud remake if you want evidence of that.

Regarded in some quarters as the father ofGodzilla, he died in Tokyo back in 1993.

Both men left a tremendous legacy, and it seems fitting that del Toro pay tribute to it.

PARKER

The Jason Statham-Jennifer Lopez vehicle was dedicated to the memory of Donald E Westlake.

The same novel was also the basis forPaybackandPoint Blank.

Westlake died in 2008, at the age of 75.

HE PEACEMAKER

DreamWorks first movie,The Peacemakeris to the memory of Paul Leder.

He was also the father of Mimi Leder, the director ofThe Peacemaker.

Bruce Weintraub, meanwhile, was 33 when he passed.

I LOVE YOU

The 2007 movie adaptation of Cecilia AhernsP.S.

I Love Youis in memory of Windland Smith Rice.

She was the sister of the films producer, Molly Smith.

She died in 2005, after building a strong career as a photographer, of a rare heart disorder.

She was just 35 when she died.

Dobbins suffered a fatal heart attack while Red Heat was shooting in Austria, back in February 1988.

He was 56 at the time of his death.

The entire film is dedicated, movingly, to Mary.

Simpson was 52 when he died, in January 1996.

Simpson never got to see it, and the film remains dedicated to him.

The card reads this film is dedicated in loving memory to Don Simpson.

SCARFACE

Brian De Palmas take onScarfacebears the a dedication to Howard Hawks and Ben Hecht.

Hawks was the director of the originalScarfacemovie, and Hecht was its lead writer.

The credits also pay tribute to Commander B.S.

Davies, for his contribution to the mission that the film depicts.

SHALLOW HAL

The Farrelly BrothersShallow Halincludes a dedication to Charles Seabrook.

He died six months before the release ofShallow Hal.

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

Theres a unfussy dedication to Allen Greene in the credits of the immortalThe Shawshank Redemption.

Greene was the agent of writer/director Frank Darabont, and a good friend of his too.

SPY GAME

Tony Scotts thriller, starring Robert Redford, is dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Jean Scott.

As, incidentally, was Ridley ScottsBlack Hawk Down.

The connection being, as you might guess, is that shes their mother.

She died in 2001.

Its in memory of Herb Flynn, who acted in films such asShallow HalandTheres Something About Maryfor the directors.

Flynn died of cancer before Stuck On You was released, at the age of 85.

Nonetheless, the film bears his dedication.

THERES SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

The Farrelly Brothers dedicatedTheres Something About Maryto 17-year old Ryan Mone.

THIS IS ENGLAND

Shane Meadows superb 2006 drama gave young Thomas Turgoose an indelible breakthrough role.

TOP GUN

The classic Tom Cruise/Tony Scott blockbuster is dedicated to the memory of Art Scholl.

TRANSPORTER 2

The Jason Statham-starring sequel is dedicated to the memory of Michael Stone.

He died in a car accident in 2005, at the age of 56.

We just wanted to honour him.

He had worked on theKung Fu Pandamovies,Turbo,Megamindand more during his time at DreamWorks Animation.

UNFORGIVEN

A fairly obvious one, this.

Clint Eastwood adds the words Dedicated to Sergio and Don at the end.

Siegel directed him inDirty Harry, whilst Leone was the man behind the peerlessMan With No Nametrilogy.

UNSTOPPABLE

The late Tony Scotts final film,Unstoppable, was dedicated to the memory of Hollie Haines Knowlton.

The dedication arises from the true story that inspired the film.

Hollie Haines Knowlton was Jesses wife, and she died before the film was released.

The movie was released in 2010, and is dedicated to Francisco Estevez.

He was Emilios grandfather, and Martins father.

THE WICKER MAN

The infamous 2006 remake ofThe Wicker Manbears the credit For Johnny Ramone.

Ramone died in 2004, and never got to see the remake.

The dedication was in recognition of what he contribution to the spots of golf and tennis.

McCormack suffered a cardiac arrest in January 2003, and finally died from complications in May 2003.

He was 72 years old.

He died on the spot due to heavy injuries.

Also…

STEVE JOBS

The filmsJohn CarterandBraveare both dedicated to the late Apple boss.

The Great Escapeis For the Fifty.

The Towering Inferno, meanwhile, is dedicated to firefighters.

We will occasionally update this over time.

Our thoughts are very much with those affected by the losses weve talked about.