John G. Avildsen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John G. Avildsen
Avildsen in 1975
Born	John Guilbert Avildsen (1935-12-21)December 21, 1935 Oak Park, Illinois, U.S.
Died	June 16, 2017(2017-06-16) (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Johnny Avildsen
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1969–2017
Spouse(s)	Marie Olga Maturevich (Melissa McCall) Tracy Brooks Swope ​ ​ (m. 1987; separated 2006)​
Children	4
Signature

John Guilbert Avildsen (born December 21, 1935 – died June 16, 2017) was an American film director. He is most famous for directing the movie Rocky (1976). This film won him an Academy Award for Best Director. He also directed the first three movies in The Karate Kid series (1984–1989). Some of his other well-known films include Joe (1970) and Save the Tiger (1973).

Early Life and Education

John Avildsen was born in Oak Park, Illinois. His parents were Ivy and Clarence John Avildsen. He went to Indian Mountain School and the Hotchkiss School. He also studied at New York University.

A Director's Journey

John Avildsen started his career helping other directors. He worked on films by famous directors like Arthur Penn. He also worked as a camera director on the 1969 film Out of It.

His first big success was the movie Joe (1970). This film was made with a small budget of $100,000. But it earned a lot of money, about $26 million! People also liked the acting in the film.

After Joe, he directed a comedy film called Cry Uncle! (1971). Then came Save the Tiger (1973). The actor Jack Lemmon won an Oscar for his role in this movie.

The Success of Rocky

Avildsen's biggest achievement was directing Rocky (1976). He worked closely with the writer and star, Sylvester Stallone. The movie was a huge hit with both critics and audiences. It was the highest-earning film of 1976. Rocky was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won three. These included Best Picture and Best Director for Avildsen.

He later returned to direct Rocky V (1990). This was meant to be the last film in the Rocky series at the time.

The Karate Kid Films

John Avildsen also directed the first three movies in The Karate Kid series. These films were released in 1984, 1986, and 1989. They became very popular and are loved by many fans.

Other Notable Films

Avildsen directed many other movies throughout his career. These include:

• The Formula (1980), starring Marlon Brando.
• Neighbors (1981).
• Lean on Me (1989).
• 8 Seconds (1994).

He was originally set to direct Serpico (1973) and Saturday Night Fever (1977). However, he left these projects due to disagreements with the producers. His last film was Inferno (1999), starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Documentary About His Life

A documentary film about John G. Avildsen's life and work was released in August 2017. It was called John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs. This film featured interviews with many famous people. These included Sylvester Stallone, Ralph Macchio, and Martin Scorsese. A book about his films was also released.

Family Life

John Avildsen had five children. His son, Jonathan Avildsen, appeared in some of his father's films. These included The Karate Kid Part III and Rocky V.

His Passing

John G. Avildsen passed away on June 16, 2017, in Los Angeles. He was 81 years old. His son Anthony said that he died from pancreatic cancer.

Filmography

Slow Dancing in the Big City 1978

See also

In Spanish: John G. Avildsen para niños