Known For
Directing
Born
Dec 21, 1935
Died
Jun 16, 2017
Place of Birth
Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Credits
48 titles
John G. Avildsen
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.
Known For
Filmography
Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky
Himself
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Self (archive footage)
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
Self (archive footage)
Frank Serpico
Self (archive footage)
American Satan
Talk Show Host
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Self
The Real Miyagi
Self
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Self - Director
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance
Self
Tribute To James Crabe
Himself
Make Your Own Damn Movie!
Himself
The Way of The Karate Kid
Self - Director / Academy Award Winner
Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon
Self
Inferno
Director
Sports on the Silver Screen
Self (archive footage)
8 Seconds
Director
The Troma System
Self
The Power of One
Director
Rocky V
Director
Rocky Special: Burning Youth
Director
The Karate Kid Part III
Director
Lean On Me
Director
For Keeps
Director
Happy New Year
Director
The Karate Kid Part II
Director
The Karate Kid
Editor
A Night in Heaven
Director
Traveling Hopefully
Director
Neighbors
Director
The Formula
Director
Slow Dancing In The Big City
Producer
Rocky
Director
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
Director
Fore Play
Director
Save the Tiger
Director
The Stoolie
Cinematography
Okay Bill
Writer
Cry Uncle!
Director
Guess What We Learned in School Today?
Story
Joe
Director of Photography
Turn On to Love
Director
Out of It
Associate Producer
Hurry Sundown
Assistant Director
Mickey One
Executive Producer
Smiles
Producer
Greenwich Village Story
Alvie
The Oscars
Self
A Fine and Private Place
Director