John G. Avildsen
John G. Avildsen has spent the career as an American director known, when known at all, from the credit block. Among the rest of the credits, 'The Karate Kid' stands out. 1964 is the year the credit list begins. The career now covers more than 62 years. 'Rocky' is the project that outgrew the rest of the list.
John G. Avildsen
24 Directed
John G. Avildsen has spent the career as an American director known, when known at all, from the credit block. Among the rest of the credits, 'The Karate Kid' stands out. 1964 is the year the credit list begins. The career now covers more than 62 years. 'Rocky' is the project that outgrew the rest of the list.
Movies
Director
Rocky
1976
Director
The Karate Kid
1984
Director
Rocky V
1990
Director
The Karate Kid Part II
1986
Director
The Karate Kid Part III
1989
Director
Inferno
1999
Director
Lean On Me
1989
Director
8 Seconds
1994
Director
The Power of One
1992
Director
For Keeps
1988
Director
Neighbors
1981
Director
The Formula
1980
Director
Save the Tiger
1973
Director
A Night in Heaven
1983
Director
Fore Play
1975
Director
Happy New Year
1987
Director
Joe
1970
Director
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
1975
Director
Cry Uncle!
1971
Director
Slow Dancing In The Big City
1978
Director
Guess What We Learned in School Today?
1971
Director
Turn On to Love
1969
Latest Trailers
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is John G. Avildsen still alive?
John G. Avildsen passed away on June 16, 2017 at age 81.
What are the most famous roles of John G. Avildsen?
John G. Avildsen is best known for directing Rocky, The Karate Kid, Rocky V.
How many movies has John G. Avildsen directed?
Over a 53-year career (since 1964), John G. Avildsen has directed or written 24 films and worked on 0 TV shows.
What was John G. Avildsen's first movie?
The career of John G. Avildsen began with A Fine and Private Place ().
What is John G. Avildsen's most recent movie or series?
John G. Avildsen's most recent release is Inferno, which premiered on September 25, 1999.
John G. Avildsen
1935-12-21 · Oak Park, Illinois, USA
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.