JOHN G. AVILDSEN
December 21, 1935 – June 16, 2017 (age 81)
Cause of Death: Pancreatic cancer
The name John G. Avildsen may not ring a bell immediately, but he is the man behind directing the original Rocky film, which eventually brought him to his first and only Oscar win. He would later go on to direct the fifth Rocky installment as well. He is also responsible for bringing to your childhood The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid: Part II, and The Karate Kid: Part III, so you are welcome. He had quite the career, mostly in film, with only one television pilot under his belt. He would also edit a lot of his own work. But his greatest achievement in film would always be that win for Rocky.
JOHN G. AVILDSEN’S DIRECTING FILMOGRAPHY
| 1965 | Light Sound Diffused |
Documentary short – also Editor / Producer / Cinematographer |
| 1969 | Turn On To Love |
also Editor / Cinematographer |
| 1970 | Guess What We Learned in School Today? | also Editor / Cinematographer |
| 1970 | Joe | also Cinematographer |
| 1971 | Cry Uncle! |
also Editor / Director Of Photography |
| 1972 | Okay Bill |
also Writer |
| 1973 | Save The Tiger |
|
| 1974 | The Stoolie |
Co-Director – also Cinematographer |
| 1975 | Fore Play |
|
| 1975 | W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings | |
| 1976 | Rocky | 1977 Academy Award for Best Directing |
| 1978 | Slow Dancing in the Big City | also Editor / Producer |
| 1980 | The Formula |
|
| 1981 | Neighbors | |
| 1982 | Traveling Hopefully | Documentary |
| 1983 | A Night In Heaven |
also Editor |
| 1984 | The Karate Kid | also Editor |
| 1986 | The Karate Kid: Part II | also Editor |
| 1987 | Happy New Year |
|
| 1988 | For Keeps? |
also Editor |
| 1989 | Lean On Me |
also Editor / Executive Producer |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid: Part III | also Editor |
| 1990 | Rocky V |
also Editor |
| 1992 | The Power Of One |
also Editor |
| 1994 | 8 Seconds |
|
| 1999 | Inferno | as Danny Mulroon, director’s cut |
| 2014 | Let Love Last |
Short |
JOHN G. AVILDSEN’S TELEVISION WORK
| 1980 | Murder Ink |
Director | Television pilot |
