Famed political thriller director Costa Gavras dies at age 85

In this Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 file photo, Greek-French film director Costa Gavras poses before the screening of the movie Leon Morin, pretre (Leon Morin, priest) as part of the festival Toute la memoire du monde, in Paris. Greece's culture minister says Gavras has died in Paris at the age of 85. (Christophe Ena/AP file)

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s culture minister says Greek-French film director Costa Gavras has died in Paris at the age of 85.

Culture Minister Mysini Zorba announced the filmmaker’s death in a post on Twitter, noting that Gavras died in France.

Gavras often tackled political issues in his films. He was best known for “Z,” a 1969 film which was critical of the Greek dictatorship that ruled the country between 1967 and 1974.