John G. Avildsen
33 movies
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- Dec 21, 1935
- Died
- Jun 16, 2017 (age 81)
- Place of birth
- Oak Park, Illinois, USA
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.
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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.
Profiles IMDb
Known for
John G. Avildsen: movies and TV shows
Acting (2)
- 2017 American Satan
as Talk Show Host
- 1963 Greenwich Village Story
as Alvie
Behind the camera (32)
- Upcoming May Day x 4
Cinematography
- Upcoming A Fine and Private Place
Director
- 2017 American Satan
Executive Producer
- 1999 Inferno
Director
- 1994 8 Seconds
Director
- 1992 The Power of One
Editor, Director
- 1990 Rocky V
Editor, Director
- 1989 The Karate Kid Part III
Director, Editor
- 1989 Lean On Me
Director, Executive Producer, Editor
- 1988 For Keeps
Director, Editor
- 1987 Happy New Year
Director
- 1986 The Karate Kid Part II
Editor, Director
- 1984 The Karate Kid
Editor, Director
- 1983 A Night in Heaven
Director, Editor
- 1982 Traveling Hopefully
Director, Producer, Cinematography
- 1981 Neighbors
Director
- 1980 The Formula
Director
- 1978 Slow Dancing In The Big City
Director, Editor, Producer, Camera Operator
- 1976 Rocky
Director
- 1975 W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
Director
- 1975 Fore Play
Director
- 1973 Save the Tiger
Director
- 1972 The Stoolie
Cinematography, Director
- 1971 Okay Bill
Writer, Editor, Director, Cinematography
- 1971 Cry Uncle!
Director, Director of Photography, Additional Dialogue, Editor
- 1971 Guess What We Learned in School Today?
Story, Director of Photography, Director, Editor
- 1970 Joe
Director of Photography, Director
- 1969 Turn On to Love
Director
- 1969 Out of It
Associate Producer, Director of Photography
- 1967 Hurry Sundown
Assistant Director
- 1965 Mickey One
Executive Producer
- 1964 Smiles
Producer, Director
Talk shows and appearances (15)
- 2022
- 2020
- 2017
- 2017
- 2017
- 2015
- 2014
- 2011
- 2006
- 2005
- 2005
- 2002
- 1997
- 1993
- 1953 The Oscars
1 episode