John G. Avildsen

Birthday:

12/21/1935

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. 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.



Credits

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic (2020)
Self (archive footage)
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie (2017)
Self (archive footage)
Frank Serpico (2017)
Self (archive footage)
American Satan (2017)
Talk Show Host
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs (2017)
The Real Miyagi (2015)
Self
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014)
Self - Director
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance (2011)
Self
Tribute To James Crabe (2006)
Himself
Make Your Own Damn Movie! (2005)
Himself
The Way of The Karate Kid (2005)
Self - Director / Academy Award Winner
Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon (2002)
Self
Sports on the Silver Screen (1997)
Self (archive footage)
The Troma System (1993)
Himself
Greenwich Village Story (1963)
Alvie
American Satan (2017)
Executive Producer
Inferno (1999)
Director
8 Seconds (1994)
Director
The Power of One (1992)
Director
The Power of One (1992)
Editor
Rocky V (1990)
Director
Rocky V (1990)
Editor
The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
Director
The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
Editor
Lean On Me (1989)
Director
Lean On Me (1989)
Executive Producer
Lean On Me (1989)
Editor
For Keeps (1988)
Director
For Keeps (1988)
Editor
Happy New Year (1987)
Director
The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
Director
The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
Editor
The Karate Kid (1984)
Director
The Karate Kid (1984)
Editor
A Night in Heaven (1983)
Director
A Night in Heaven (1983)
Editor
Traveling Hopefully (1982)
Director
Neighbors (1981)
Director
The Formula (1980)
Director
Slow Dancing In The Big City (1978)
Director
Slow Dancing In The Big City (1978)
Producer
Slow Dancing In The Big City (1978)
Editor
Slow Dancing In The Big City (1978)
Camera Operator
Rocky (1976)
Director
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975)
Director
Fore Play (1975)
Director
Save the Tiger (1973)
Director
The Stoolie (1972)
Director
The Stoolie (1972)
Cinematography
Okay Bill (1971)
Director
Okay Bill (1971)
Writer
Okay Bill (1971)
Cinematography
Okay Bill (1971)
Editor
Cry Uncle! (1971)
Director
Cry Uncle! (1971)
Editor
Cry Uncle! (1971)
Additional Dialogue
Cry Uncle! (1971)
Director of Photography
Guess What We Learned in School Today? (1971)
Director
Guess What We Learned in School Today? (1971)
Editor
Guess What We Learned in School Today? (1971)
Story
Guess What We Learned in School Today? (1971)
Director of Photography
Joe (1970)
Director
Joe (1970)
Director of Photography
Turn On to Love (1969)
Director
Out of It (1969)
Associate Producer
Out of It (1969)
Director of Photography
Hurry Sundown (1967)
Assistant Director
Mickey One (1965)
Executive Producer
Smiles (1964)
Director
Smiles (1964)
Producer