Director
Richard Donner
April 24, 1930 · Bronx, New York, USA
Richard Donner (born Richard Donald Schwartzberg; April 24, 1930 – July 5, 2021) was an American filmmaker. Described as "one of Hollywood's most reliable makers of action blockbusters", Donner directed some of the most financially successful films of the 1970s and 1980s. His career spanning more than six decades crossed genres and influenced trends among filmmakers across the world.
Donner began his career in 1957 as a television director. In the 1960s, he directed episodes of the series The Rifleman, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Fugitive, The Twilight Zone, The Banana Splits, and many others. Donner made his film debut with the low-budget aviation drama X-15 in 1961, but had his critical and commercial breakthrough with the horror film The Omen in 1976. He directed the landmark superhero film Superman in 1978, which provided an inspiration for the fantasy film genre to eventually gain artistic respectability and commercial dominance. Donner later went on to direct films in the 1980s such as The Goonies and Scrooged, while reinvigorating the buddy cop film genre with the Lethal Weapon series.
Notable work
7.5The Goonies (1985)
as Policeman (uncredited) and Director
7.3Lethal Weapon (1987)
Director
7.2Superman (1978)
as Man in Street (extended version) (uncredited) and Director
7Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
Director
6.7Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)
Director
6.6Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
Director
6.8Superman II (1980)
as Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)
7.4The Omen (1976)
Director
6.516 Blocks (2006)
as Man Holding a Birthday Cake (uncredited) and Director
6.9Maverick (1994)
as Dealer (uncredited) and Director
6.5Assassins (1995)
Director
6.8Scrooged (1988)
Director
Often works with
Mel Gibson
6 titles together
Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3
Steve Kahan
6 titles together
Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3, Lethal Weapon 4
Danny Glover
4 titles together
Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3
Darlene Love
4 titles together
Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3
Traci Wolfe
4 titles together
Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3
Damon Hines
4 titles together
Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3
Full filmography · 78
E! True Hollywood Story
cast
19968.1
Tales from the Crypt
as Man at Bar (uncredited) and Director
19898
Bronk
Director
1975
Petrocelli
Director
19747.2
Sons and Daughters
Director
1974
Kojak
Director
19737.2
The Streets of San Francisco
Director
19727.1
Ghost Story
Director
1972
Banyon
Director
1972
Bearcats!
Director
1971
Cannon
Director
19716.7
Sarge
Director
1971