John G. Avildsen
Born: 1935-12-21 in Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Died: 2017-06-16
Known For: Directing
Biography
John Guilbert Avildsen (December 21, 1935 – June 16, 2017) was an American film director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1977 for Rocky. Other films he directed include Joe, Save the Tiger, Fore Play, The Formula, Neighbors, For Keeps, Lean on Me, The Power of One, 8 Seconds, Inferno, Rocky V and the first three The Karate Kid films. Avildsen was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Ivy (née Guilbert) and Clarence John Avildsen. He was educated at The Hotchkiss School and New York University. After starting out as an assistant director on films by Arthur Penn and Otto Preminger, John Avildsen received his first success with the low budget feature Joe (1970) which received critical acclaim for star Peter Boyle and moderate box office business. This was followed by another critical success, Save the Tiger (1973), that was nominated for three Oscars, winning Best Actor for star Jack Lemmon. Avildsen's greatest success was Rocky (1976), garnering ten Academy Award nominations and winning three, including Best Picture and Best Director. He later directed what was expected to be the series' final installment, Rocky V (1990). His other films include Cry Uncle! (1971), Neighbors (1981), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), Lean on Me (1989) and 8 Seconds (1994). Avildsen was the original director for both Serpico (1973) and Saturday Night Fever (1977), but was fired over disputes with producers Martin Bregman and Robert Stigwood, respectively.
Filmography
2022
2020
- 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic as Self (archive footage)
2017
- American Satan as Talk Show Host
- Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie as Self (archive footage)
- Frank Serpico as Self (archive footage)
- John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs as Self
2015
- The Real Miyagi as Self
2014
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films as Self - Director
2011
2006
- Tribute To James Crabe as Himself
2005
- The Way of The Karate Kid as Self - Director / Academy Award Winner
- Make Your Own Damn Movie! as Himself
2002
1999
- Inferno ... (Director)
1997
- Sports on the Silver Screen as Self (archive footage)
1994
- 8 Seconds ... (Director)
1993
- The Troma System as Himself
1992
- The Power of One ... (Director)
1990
- Rocky V ... (Director)
1989
- Lean On Me ... (Director)
- The Karate Kid Part III ... (Director)
1988
- For Keeps ... (Director)
1987
- Happy New Year ... (Director)
1986
- The Karate Kid Part II ... (Director)
1984
- The Karate Kid ... (Director)
1983
- A Night In Heaven ... (Director)
1982
- Traveling Hopefully ... (Director)
1981
- Neighbors ... (Director)
1980
- The Formula ... (Director)
1978
- Slow Dancing In The Big City ... (Director)
1976
- Rocky ... (Director)
1975
- Fore Play ... (Director)
- W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings ... (Director)
1973
- Save the Tiger ... (Director)
1972
- The Stoolie ... (Cinematography)
1971
- Cry Uncle! ... (Director)
- Okay Bill ... (Director)
- Guess What We Learned in School Today? ... (Story)
1970
- Joe ... (Director)
1969
- Out of It ... (Associate Producer)
- Turn On to Love ... (Director)
1967
- Hurry Sundown ... (Assistant Director)
1965
- Mickey One ... (Executive Producer)
1964
- Smiles ... (Director)
1963
- Greenwich Village Story as Alvie
1953
- The Oscars as Self