Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Sly’s sadness after Rocky director dies
THE Oscar-winning director of Rocky and The Karate Kid, John G Avildsen, has died aged 81.
His son, Anthony, said the filmmaker had been battling pancreatic cancer.
Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone, was the highest grossing movie of 1976, despite its low budget.
Stallone led tributes, posting on Instagram: “RIP. Sure you’ll be directing Hits in Heaven. Thank you.”
Rocky won an Oscar for best picture, as well as one for Avildsen as director.
He also directed the first three Karate Kid films and guided Jack Lemmon to his only best actor Oscar in 1973 movie Save the Tiger.
The Directors Guild of America praised Avildsen, who died in LA, for his “rousing portrayals of victory and courage”.