Rocky director Avildsen dies at 81
Movie- maker John Avildsen – who directed Rocky and The Karate Kid – has died at the of age of 81.
His son Anthony said his father died on Friday in LA from pancreatic cancer.
“He was a pretty extraordinary man ,” Anthony added.
“He was super-talented and very driven and very stubborn and that was to his detriment but also often to his benefit.”
The Directors Guild of America paid tribute, saying: “Throughout the decades , his rousing portrayals of victory, courage and emotion captured the hearts of generations of Americans.”
Avildsen took a chance on Rocky, written by and starring the then-unknown Sylvester Stallone as a struggling boxer.
But the 1976 film became a phenomenon that won Oscars for best picture as well as for Avilds en as director and editing.
Avi ldsen championed underdogs on film and in 1984 , The Karate Kid – telling the story of a bullied teenager played by Ralph Macchio – became another surprise hit.
He directed two sequels in the franchise before returning to the director’s chair for Rocky V in 1990.
Avildsen also directed the likes of Marlon Brando in The Formula (1980) and Morgan Freeman in Lean On Me (1989).
He is survived by his sons Jonathan, Ashley and Anthony, and daughter Bridget.