John G. Avildsen, who won an Oscar for directing the iconicRockyand also helmed all threeKarate Kidmovies, haspassed awayat 81. While no cause of death was revealed, the director’s representative confirmed his death in Los Angeles today. The filmmaker leaves behind a lasting legacy of telling some of the best underdog stories ever put on film.
Variety confirmed thedirector’s deathwith his rep earlier today, although no further details were given. It hasn’t been revealed yet if there will be any sort of public memorial service for the filmmaker. The man was born June 06, 2025, in Oak Park, Illinois, USA, graduating from the prestigious Hotchkiss School and NYU. He got his start in the movie business by serving as assistant director on movies helmed by Arthur Penn and Otto Preminger.
Thelate filmmakermade his feature directorial debut in 1969 withTurn To Love, which he also served as the cinematographer on. He also worked in several different areas on other films, writing the scripts for movies such asCry UncleandOK Bill, which he also directed, serving as a cinematographer onOut of It,Cry Uncle,OK BillandThe Stoolieand even serving as the editor of several movies including all threeKarate Kidmovies that he directed. He kept working in the early 1970s by directing his first big hitJoe, starring Susan Sarandon,Save the Tigerin 1972 with Jack Lemon and a pair of 1975 movies,ForeplayandW.W. and the Dixie Dancekings, before directingRocky, which won him his first and only Academy Award.
The filmmaker was slated to direct the follow-upRocky II, although he held out on directing the sequel in lieu of taking another project. Sylvester Stallone would end up directingRocky IIhimself, along withRocky IIIandRocky IV, before John G. Alvidsen returned to theRockyfranchise by directingRocky Vin 1990. Thelate directorwould direct seven actors to Oscar nominees, includingRockystars Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith and Talia Shire,The Karate Kidstar Pat Morita andSave the Tigerstars Jack Lemon, who won the Oscar for his portrayal of Harry Stoner, and Jack Gilford.
AfterRocky,John G. AvildsendirectedSlow Dancing in the Big City(1978) starring Paul Sorvino,The Formula(1980) starring George C. Scott and Marlon Brando,Neighbors(1981) starring John Belushi andA Night in Heaven(1983) starring Lesley Ann Warren, before his blockbusterThe Karate Kidbecame a worldwide sensation in 1984. He returned to directThe Karate Kid IIin 1986, followed byHappy New Yearin 1987, starring Peter Falk,For Keepsin 1988 starring Molly Ringwald and two hits in 1989,Lean On Me, starring Morgan Freeman andThe Karate Kid III. He also directedThe Power of Onein 1992,8 Secondswith Luke Perry in 1994,A Fine and Private Placein 1998 andInfernoin 1999 starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. According to IMDB, the filmmaker was in pre-production on his first film in nearly 20 years entitledNate and Al, which has Richard Dreyfus, Josh Peck and Martin Landau attached to star. The filmmaker issurvived byhis four children, daughter Bridget, and sons Anthony, Jonathan and Ashley.
