The 54-year-old British filmmaker suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage.
He had been in hospital after undergoing an operation for cancer of the
tonsils and neck at London's Charing Cross Hospital.
His agent Leslee Dart said: "The surgery had gone well and they were very
optimistic. But he developed a hemorrhage and doctors were not able to stop
it."
Minghella is survived by his Hong-Kong born choreographer wife Carolyn Choa,
his daughter Hannah and actor son Max.
Minghella won a Best Director Oscar in 1997 for 'The English Patient',
starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche and Kristin Scott Thomas.
His other work includes 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', which catapulted Jude Law
to fame, and 'Cold Mountain' - which won Renée Zellweger a Best Supporting
Actress Oscar.