John G. Avildsen | WatchedThis

John G. Avildsen

John G. Avildsen

Directing

Biography

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.

Filmography Movies

Acting

Poster for Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
MOVIE

Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie

7.7(0.0K)
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
Self (archive footage)
Poster for Sports on the Silver Screen
MOVIE

Sports on the Silver Screen

9.0(0.0K)
Sports on the Silver Screen
Self (archive footage)
Poster for Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
MOVIE

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

7.2(0.2K)
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Self - Director
Poster for The Real Miyagi
MOVIE

The Real Miyagi

6.5(0.0K)
The Real Miyagi
Self
Poster for John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
MOVIE

John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs

6.7(0.0K)
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Self
Poster for Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky
MOVIE

Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky

Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky
Himself
Make Your Own Damn Movie!MOVIE
MOVIE

Make Your Own Damn Movie!

4.8(0.0K)
Make Your Own Damn Movie!
Himself
Poster for 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
MOVIE

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

7.5(0.1K)
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Self (archive footage)
Poster for The Troma System
MOVIE

The Troma System

9.0(0.0K)
The Troma System
Self
Poster for Greenwich Village Story
MOVIE

Greenwich Village Story

7.0(0.0K)
Greenwich Village Story
Alvie

Production

Poster for Rocky
MOVIE

Rocky

7.8(8.6K)
Rocky
Director
Poster for Rocky V
MOVIE

Rocky V

5.8(3.5K)
Rocky V
Director
Poster for Rocky V
MOVIE

Rocky V

5.8(3.5K)
Rocky V
Editor
Poster for The Karate Kid
MOVIE

The Karate Kid

7.2(4.7K)
The Karate Kid
Director
Poster for The Karate Kid
MOVIE

The Karate Kid

7.2(4.7K)
The Karate Kid
Editor
Poster for The Karate Kid Part III
MOVIE

The Karate Kid Part III

5.9(1.8K)
The Karate Kid Part III
Director
Poster for The Karate Kid Part III
MOVIE

The Karate Kid Part III

5.9(1.8K)
The Karate Kid Part III
Editor
Poster for Inferno
MOVIE

Inferno

6.2(0.4K)
Inferno
Director
Poster for A Night in Heaven
MOVIE

A Night in Heaven

4.6(0.0K)
A Night in Heaven
Director
Poster for The Formula
MOVIE

The Formula

5.6(0.0K)
The Formula
Director

Gallery

John G. Avildsen portrait
John G. Avildsen portrait
John G. Avildsen portrait
John G. Avildsen portrait