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Randal Kleiser
Born
John Randal Kleiser

(1946-07-20) July 20, 1946 (age 78)
Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater University of Southern California
Occupation
  • Film director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
  • actor
Years active 1962–present

John Randal Kleiser (born July 20, 1946) is a famous American film director. He also works as a producer, writer, and actor. He is most known for directing popular movies like Grease (1978), The Blue Lagoon (1980), Flight of the Navigator (1986), and White Fang (1991).

About Randal Kleiser

Randal Kleiser was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. His parents were Harriet Kelly and Dr. John Raymond Kleiser. He grew up with two younger brothers. Kleiser went to Radnor High School near Philadelphia.

Early Life and Education

When he was a freshman at the University of Southern California, Kleiser acted in a student film called Freiheit. This film was made by George Lucas, who later created Star Wars. Kleiser graduated from college in 1968. His Master's thesis film, a short movie from 1973 called Peege, helped start his career. This film was about a grandson and his sick grandmother. It was even chosen to be saved by the United States Library of Congress in 2007.

Directing for Television

In the mid-1970s, Kleiser directed several TV movies. These included Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1975) and The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976). The movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble starred John Travolta. Kleiser also directed The Gathering (1977), which won an Emmy Award.

Directing Major Films

Because of his work with John Travolta, Kleiser was chosen to direct his first big movie, Grease, in 1978. This movie became a huge hit.

After Grease, Kleiser directed many more feature films. Some of these include The Blue Lagoon (1980) with Brooke Shields, and Summer Lovers (1982) with Daryl Hannah. He also directed Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) starring Jamie Lee Curtis.

In 1986, he directed Flight of the Navigator. This movie was special because it was one of the first films to use digital morphing effects. He also directed Big Top Pee-wee (1988), White Fang (1991), and Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992). In London, he directed the comedy Getting It Right (1989).

Kleiser also wrote and directed It's My Party in 1996. He was a writer and producer for the surfing movie North Shore (1987). Later, he directed the thriller Shadow of Doubt (1998).

Theme Park Films

In 1995, Kleiser directed Honey, I Shrunk the Audience for Disney theme parks. This film was shown in 3-D and used a special 70mm film format. He worked with many of the same actors from his movie Honey, I Blew Up the Kid for this project.

Filmography

Feature Films

Filmmaking Credits

Year Title Director Producer Screenwriter Notes
1976 Street People No No Yes Italian: Gli esecutori
1978 Grease Yes No No First film he directed
1980 The Blue Lagoon Yes Yes No
1982 Summer Lovers Yes Yes Yes
1984 Grandview, U.S.A. Yes No No
1986 Flight of the Navigator Yes No No
1987 North Shore No Executive Story
1988 Big Top Pee-wee Yes No No
1989 Getting It Right Yes Yes No
1991 White Fang Yes No No
Return to the Blue Lagoon No Executive No
1992 Honey, I Blew Up the Kid Yes No No
1996 It's My Party Yes Yes Yes
1998 Shadow of Doubt Yes No No
1999 How to Get There Yes No Yes
2005 Love Wrecked Yes No No
2006 Red Riding Hood Yes No No Also helped arrange a song
2020 Life After the Navigator No Executive No Documentary film

Acting Credits

Year Title Role
1981 Rich and Famous Literary Party Guest
1988 Big Top Pee-wee Popcorn vendor
1996 Cannes Man Himself
1998 Susan's Plan Doctor No. 1
1999 Crazy in Alabama Bob
2002 Circuit Doctor

Short Films

Filmmaking Credits

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1973 Peege Yes Yes No Also editor
1994 Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! Yes No No Theme park film
2017 The Speech JFK Never Gave Yes Yes Yes
2019 Defrost: The Virtual Series Yes Yes Yes 12-Episode VR Series
2019 Grease XR Yes No No Volumetric capture Short

Acting Credits

Year Title Role Notes
1962 The Pursuit The Pursuer
1964 Captain America vs. The Mutant Steve Rogers / Captain America
1966 Freiheit Boy

Other Credits

Year Title Role
1967 Glut Editor
2001 The Princess and the Pea Production advisor
2015 Arctic Plunge Technical advisor

Television Work

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1974–1975 Marcus Welby, M.D. Yes No No Directed 4 episodes
1975 Lucas Tanner Yes No No Episode: "Bonus Baby"
All Together Now Yes No No TV movie
1975–1977 Starsky & Hutch Yes No No Directed 3 episodes
1976 The Rookies Yes No No Episode: "From Out of the Darkness"
Family Yes No No Directed 2 episodes
Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway Yes No No TV movie
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Yes No No TV movie
1977 ABC Weekend Specials Yes Yes Yes Episode: "Portrait of Grandpa Doc," also editor
The Gathering Yes No No TV movie
1995 New York News Yes No No Number of episodes unknown
1999 Royal Standard Yes No No TV movie
2010 The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors Yes Yes Yes

Awards and Nominations

Randal Kleiser has been recognized for his directing work:

  • Nominated for Best Director at the Saturn Awards for Honey, I Blew Up the Kid.
  • Nominated for Best Director at the Saturn Awards for Flight of the Navigator.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Randal Kleiser para niños

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