Search Everything

Login

Send feeback or report a bug here

Send feeback or report a bug here

John G. Avildsen

John G. Avildsen

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.

Personal information

Birthday

1935-12-21

Birth Place

Oak Park, Illinois, USA

Movies and TV shows :

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

2020

7.7

Movie
American Satan

American Satan

2017

7.2

Movie
Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky

Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky

2022

0.0

Movie
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

2014

7.2

Movie
Frank Serpico

Frank Serpico

2017

6.2

Movie
Greenwich Village Story

Greenwich Village Story

1963

6.0

Movie
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs

John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs

2017

6.8

Movie
Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon

Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon

2002

0.0

Movie
Make Your Own Damn Movie!

Make Your Own Damn Movie!

2005

3.5

Movie
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie

Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie

2017

7.7

Movie
Sports on the Silver Screen

Sports on the Silver Screen

1997

10.0

Movie
poster

The Oscars

1953

7.0

TV
The Real Miyagi

The Real Miyagi

2015

6.5

Movie
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance

The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance

2011

6.2

Movie
The Troma System

The Troma System

1993

0.0

Movie
The Way of The Karate Kid

The Way of The Karate Kid

2005

0.0

Movie
Tribute To James Crabe

Tribute To James Crabe

2006

0.0

Movie