Director
John G. Avildsen
December 21, 1935 · 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.
Notable work
Often works with
Pat Morita
4 titles together
The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II, The Karate Kid Part III
Ralph Macchio
3 titles together
The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II, The Karate Kid Part III
Martin Kove
3 titles together
The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II, The Karate Kid Part III
Pat E. Johnson
3 titles together
The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II, The Karate Kid Part III
Jonathan Avildsen
3 titles together
Rocky V, The Karate Kid Part III, Inferno
Sylvester Stallone
2 titles together
Rocky, Rocky V
Full filmography · 30
A Fine and Private Place
Director
Upcoming
American Satan
as Talk Show Host
20177.2
Inferno
Director
19996.2
8 Seconds
Director
19947.1
The Power of One
Director
19927.5
Rocky V
Director
19905.8
Rocky Special: Burning Youth
Director
1990
The Karate Kid Part III
Director
19895.9
Lean On Me
Director
19897.3
For Keeps
Director
19886.5
Happy New Year
Director
1987
The Karate Kid Part II
Director
19866.3