John G. Avildsen
Directing
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.
Known for
Directing29
movieInferno
1999
Director
movie8 Seconds
1994
Director
movieThe Power of One
1992
Director
movieRocky V
1990
Director
movieThe Karate Kid Part III
1989
Director
movieLean On Me
1989
Director
movieFor Keeps
1988
Director
movieHappy New Year
1987
Director
movieThe Karate Kid Part II
1986
Director
movieThe Karate Kid
1984
Director
movieA Night in Heaven
1983
Director
movieTraveling Hopefully
1982
Director
movieNeighbors
1981
Director
movieThe Formula
1980
Director
movieRocky
1976
Director
movieFore Play
1975
Director
movieSave the Tiger
1973
Director
The Stoolie
1972
Director
movieOkay Bill
1971
Director
movieCry Uncle!
1971
Director
movieJoe
1970
Director
movieTurn On to Love
1969
Director
movieHurry Sundown
1967
Assistant Director
movieSmiles
1964
Director
Acting17
movie40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
2020
Self (archive footage)
movieSaturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
2017
Self (archive footage)
movieFrank Serpico
2017
Self (archive footage)
movieAmerican Satan
2017
Talk Show Host
The Way of The Karate Kid
2005
Self - Director / Academy Award Winner
movieSports on the Silver Screen
1997
Self (archive footage)
tvThe Oscars
1953
Self
Editing12
movieRocky V
1990
Editor
movieLean On Me
1989
Editor
movieFor Keeps
1988
Editor
movieThe Karate Kid
1984
Editor
movieOkay Bill
1971
Editor
movieCry Uncle!
1971
Editor
Production7
movieAmerican Satan
2017
Executive Producer
movieLean On Me
1989
Executive Producer
movieTraveling Hopefully
1982
Producer
movieOut of It
1969
Associate Producer
movieMickey One
1965
Executive Producer
movieSmiles
1964
Producer
Camera5
movieSlow Dancing In The Big City
1978
Camera Operator
movieCry Uncle!
1971
Director of Photography
movieGuess What We Learned in School Today?
1971
Director of Photography
movieJoe
1970
Director of Photography
movieOut of It
1969
Director of Photography
Crew4
movieTraveling Hopefully
1982
Cinematography
The Stoolie
1972
Cinematography
movieOkay Bill
1971
Cinematography
movieCry Uncle!
1971
Additional Dialogue