John G. Avildsen, Director of `Rocky,' `Karate Kid' Films, Dies at 81
 
12 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news ¯
 
John G. Avildsen, who won an Oscar for directing the original
"Rocky" (1976), starring Sylvester Stallone, and also directed
all three of the original "Karate Kid" films, has died in Los
Angeles. He was 81.
 
A rep confirmed his death.
 
Avildsen also won the DGA Award for directing "Rocky," which also
won Oscars for best picture and film editing and was nominated in multiple
other categories.
 
In 2006 Variety interviewed Avildsen, who said that a film with a boxing
story didn't excite him at first, but he was "moved by the urban
character study of Sylvester Stallone's script." He held out on
directing part two in lieu of another project - a decision that Avildsen
said was "one of my greatest mistakes." He returned to the
franchise to direct 1990's "Rocky V."
 
In 1983 he was Oscar nominated again, this time for the documentary short
"Traveling Hopefully."
 
 
Regards,
 
Roger

--- PQUSA