John G. Avildsen

Known for DirectingBorn 1935-12-21Died 2017-06-16Oak Park, Illinois, USA

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.Read more

Movies & web series

Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon

The Stoolie

Sports on the Silver Screen

The Troma System

Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

Rocky

The Way of The Karate Kid

The Power of One

American Satan

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

Lean On Me

8 Seconds

The Karate Kid

John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs

The Real Miyagi

Greenwich Village Story

The Oscars

For Keeps

Slow Dancing In The Big City

Traveling Hopefully

The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance

Save the Tiger

The Karate Kid Part II

Inferno

Joe

Frank Serpico

Hurry Sundown

The Karate Kid Part III

W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings

Okay Bill

Rocky V

Happy New Year

Neighbors

Mickey One

The Formula

Make Your Own Damn Movie!

Guess What We Learned in School Today?

A Night in Heaven

Cry Uncle!

Out of It

Turn On to Love

Fore Play

Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky

Tribute To James Crabe

Rocky Special: Burning Youth

Smiles

A Fine and Private Place