John G. Avildsen
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.
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
(Self (archive footage))
Sports on the Silver Screen
(Self (archive footage))
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
(Self - Director)
The Real Miyagi
(Self)
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
(Self)
Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky
(Himself)
Make Your Own Damn Movie!
(Himself)
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
(Self (archive footage))
The Troma System
(Himself)
Greenwich Village Story
(Alvie)
American Satan
(Talk Show Host)
Frank Serpico
(Self (archive footage))
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance
(Self)
Tribute To James Crabe
(Himself)
The Way of The Karate Kid
(Self - Director / Academy Award Winner)
Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon
(Self)
The Oscars
(Self)
Rocky
(Director)
Rocky V
(Director)
Rocky V
(Editor)
The Karate Kid
(Director)
The Karate Kid
(Editor)
The Karate Kid Part III
(Director)
The Karate Kid Part III
(Editor)
Inferno
(Director)
A Night in Heaven
(Director)
The Formula
(Director)
Guess What We Learned in School Today?
(Story)
Guess What We Learned in School Today?
(Director of Photography)
The Karate Kid Part II
(Director)
The Karate Kid Part II
(Editor)
For Keeps
(Director)
The Power of One
(Director)
The Power of One
(Editor)
Lean On Me
(Director)
A Night in Heaven
(Editor)
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
(Director)
Joe
(Director)
Joe
(Director of Photography)
Save the Tiger
(Director)
8 Seconds
(Director)
Neighbors
(Director)
Smiles
(Director)
Smiles
(Producer)
Fore Play
(Director)
Cry Uncle!
(Director)
Happy New Year
(Director)
Traveling Hopefully
(Director)
Slow Dancing In The Big City
(Director)
Slow Dancing In The Big City
(Producer)
Slow Dancing In The Big City
(Editor)
Guess What We Learned in School Today?
(Director)
Guess What We Learned in School Today?
(Editor)
The Stoolie
(Cinematography)
Mickey One
(Executive Producer)
Lean On Me
(Executive Producer)
Lean On Me
(Editor)
Cry Uncle!
(Director of Photography)
For Keeps
(Editor)
Out of It
(Associate Producer)
The Stoolie
(Director)
American Satan
(Executive Producer)
Cry Uncle!
(Additional Dialogue)
Okay Bill
(Director)
Okay Bill
(Writer)
Okay Bill
(Cinematography)
Okay Bill
(Editor)
Out of It
(Director of Photography)
Cry Uncle!
(Editor)
Turn On to Love
(Director)
Slow Dancing In The Big City
(Camera Operator)
Hurry Sundown
(Assistant Director)