Danny Leiner, director of 'Dude, Where's My Car,' dies at 57

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Danny Leiner, a film and television director whose feature films included Dude, Where's My Car? and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, died Thursday. He was 57.

Leiner's collaborator Ross Putman confirmed his death in a Facebook post, and described its cause as a long illness.

"If there's one thing I can say about Danny the professional, it's that he refused to let us settle for anything less than our best. He pushed us to do what he knew we were capable of," Putman wrote.

Harold & Kumar stars John Cho and Kal Penn also remembered Leiner on Twitter.

"Danny was so sharp, so funny, and a great dinner companion. To his friends and family, my deepest condolences," wrote Cho.

"He was such a funny, thoughtful, encouraging person," Penn tweeted.

After graduating from SUNY Purchase, Leiner directed 1996 comedy Layin' Low, starring Jeremy Piven and Edie Falco. His second feature, Dude, Where's My Car?, earned $73.2 million at the US box office. His Harold & Kumar film resulted in two sequels, which Leiner did not direct. Leiner had also directed numerous episodes of TV shows including How to Make It In America, The Mind of the Married Man, The Office, The Sopranos, Freaks and Geeks and Arrested Development. He was also active as a commercial director.

For the Crackle network, he directed several episodes of the comedy series Backwash.