John G. Avildsen

Directing·Dec 21, 1935·Oak Park, Illinois, USA

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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.

Film	Credit
Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky2022 · Himself	Himself
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic2020 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie2017 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
Frank Serpico2017 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
American Satan2017 · Talk Show Host	Talk Show Host
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs2017 · Self	Self
The Real Miyagi2015 · Self	Self
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films2014 · Self - Director	Self - Director
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance2011 · Self	Self
TTribute To James Crabe2006 · Himself	Himself
MMake Your Own Damn Movie!2005 · Himself	Himself
TThe Way of The Karate Kid2005 · Self - Director / Academy Award Winner	Self - Director / Academy Award Winner
Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon2002 · Self	Self
Inferno1999 · Director	Director
Sports on the Silver Screen1997 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
8 Seconds1994 · Director	Director
The Troma System1993 · Self	Self
The Power of One1992 · Director	Director
Rocky V1990 · Director	Director
Rocky Special: Burning Youth1990 · Director	Director
The Karate Kid Part III1989 · Director	Director
Lean On Me1989 · Director	Director
For Keeps1988 · Director	Director
Happy New Year1987 · Director	Director
The Karate Kid Part II1986 · Director	Director
The Karate Kid1984 · Director	Director
A Night in Heaven1983 · Director	Director
Traveling Hopefully1982 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Neighbors1981 · Director	Director
The Formula1980 · Director	Director
Slow Dancing In The Big City1978 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Rocky1976 · Director	Director
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings1975 · Director	Director
Fore Play1975 · Director	Director
Save the Tiger1973 · Director	Director
TThe Stoolie1972 · Director	Director
Okay Bill1971 · Writer, Director	Writer, Director
Cry Uncle!1971 · Director, Director of Photography	Director, Director of Photography
Guess What We Learned in School Today?1971 · Director of Photography, Director	Director of Photography, Director
Joe1970 · Director of Photography, Director	Director of Photography, Director
Turn On to Love1969 · Director	Director
Out of It1969 · Director of Photography	Director of Photography
Smiles1964 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
Greenwich Village Story1963 · Alvie	Alvie
AA Fine and Private PlaceDirector	Director