John G. Avildsen

John G. Avildsen

Born: December 21, 1935
Died: June 16, 2017
in Oak Park, Illinois, USA
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.

Movies for John G. Avildsen...

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Title: 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: June 9, 2020
Type: Movie
Sylvester Stallone and John G. Avildsen narrate behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "Rocky" to mark the film's 40th anniversary.
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Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
Title: Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: December 22, 2017
Type: Movie
John Travolta, Barry Gibb and the Saturday Night Fever cast and crew tell the story behind the mega-hit film. Bruno Tonioli goes through the disco steps that made movie history.
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Frank Serpico
Title: Frank Serpico
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: November 1, 2017
Type: Movie
In 1972, officer Frank Serpico exposes the corruption which poisons the roots of the NYPD and becomes famous in 1973 when director Sidney Lumet tells his story in the classic film “Serpico,” starring Al Pacino.
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American Satan
Title: American Satan
Character: Talk Show Host
Released: October 13, 2017
Type: Movie
A young rock band, half from England and half from the US, drop out of college and move to the Sunset Strip to chase their dreams.
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John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Title: John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Character: Self
Released: August 1, 2017
Type: Movie
An examination of the Oscar-winning director who brought to life some of cinema's most beloved motion pictures.
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The Real Miyagi
Title: The Real Miyagi
Character: Self
Released: February 20, 2015
Type: Movie
The life of Fumio Demura, the greatest karate master of a generation.
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Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Title: Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Character: Self - Director
Released: October 6, 2014
Type: Movie
A documentary about the rise and fall of the Cannon Film Group, the legendary independent film company helmed by Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus.
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The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance
Title: The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance
Character: Self
Released: December 27, 2011
Type: Movie
The 35th anniversary of the 1976 Oscar-winning film “Rocky” is marked with a TV retrospective in which Sylvester Stallone and others reminisce about the creation of the movie as well as the other films in the franchise.
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Tribute To James Crabe
Title: Tribute To James Crabe
Character: Himself
Released: January 1, 2006
Type: Movie
John G. Avildsen pays tribute to cinematographer James Crabe.
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Make Your Own Damn Movie!
Title: Make Your Own Damn Movie!
Character: Himself
Released: May 31, 2005
Type: Movie
South Park's Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Night of the Living Dead's George A. Romero and Spider-Man's Stan Lee share their filmmaking secrets with the legendary Lloyd Kaufman in this step-by-step course for budding filmmakers. From scriptwriting to distribution, Kaufman covers the essentials with his works as examples, and many other notable filmmakers offer their advice. The set features films created using Kaufman's method, and much more.
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The Way of The Karate Kid
Title: The Way of The Karate Kid
Character: Self - Director / Academy Award Winner
Released: February 1, 2005
Type: Movie
Retrospective documentary on the making of The Karate Kid (1984).
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Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon
Title: Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon
Character: Self
Released: November 19, 2002
Type: Movie
Documentary on Jack Lemmon featuring interviews with those who knew him and worked with him.
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Sports on the Silver Screen
Title: Sports on the Silver Screen
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 16, 1997
Type: Movie
HBO (in association with the American Film Institute) presents this 1997 anthology, narrated by Liev Schreiber, which looks at sports in cinema from the earliest silent films until the nineties. Watch not for dramatic scenes but for the glimpse of historical figures shown both cinematic and athletic- in this tribute to the merging of sports and Hollywood.
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The Troma System
Title: The Troma System
Character: Himself
Released: January 1, 1993
Type: Movie
A 30 minute infomercial that originally aired on Comedy Central in 1993. The idea was that by purchasing Troma Inc. movie products you could better yourself as a person.
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Greenwich Village Story
Title: Greenwich Village Story
Character: Alvie
Released: July 11, 1963
Type: Movie
A struggling writer dumps a pregnant dancer for a well-off socialite. Later, he realizes his true feelings and opts to make amends.
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Title: The Oscars
Character: Self
Released: March 19, 1953
Type: TV
An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially the Academy Award of Merit, that is better known by its nickname Oscar.