John G. Avildsen

Infobox actor


name = John G. Avildsen
birthdate = birth date and age|1935|12|21
birthplace = Oak Park, Illinois USA
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
occupation = Film director
yearsactive = 1969 - present
imdb_id = 0000814
academyawards = Best Director
1976 "Rocky"
goldenglobeawards = Best Motion Picture - Drama
1976 "Rocky"

John Guilbert Avildsen (born December 21, 1935 in Oak Park, Illinois) is an Academy Award-winning American film director.

His movies include "Guess What We Learned in School" (1968), "Cry Uncle!" (1970), "Joe" (1970), "Rocky" (1976) and "Rocky V" (1990) with Sylvester Stallone, and "The Karate Kid" (1984), with Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. He also directed the acclaimed "Save the Tiger" (1973), starring Jack Lemmon, "Lean on Me" (1989), starring Morgan Freeman as the no-nonsense high school principal Joe Clark; "The Power of One" (1992) and "8 Seconds" (1994), starring Luke Perry. He has also directed "The Formula" (1980) starring George C. Scott & Marlon Brando and "For Keeps" (1988) starring Molly Ringwald. A recurring theme in many of Avildsen's movies is the triumph of an underdog character over adversity.

Avildsen won an Academy Award for directing "Rocky".

His most recent work was "Dancing into the Future" (2006) as director. However, Avildsen plans to make a return as a director in "161 & River" (2008). The film, thematically similar to previous Avildsen work, is a baseball-themed underdog story.

Filmography

*"Joe" (1970)
*"Cry Uncle!" (1971)
*"Okay Bill" (1972)
*"Save the Tiger" (1973)
*"The Stoolie" (1974)
*"Fore Play" (1975)
*"Rocky" (1976)
*"Slow Dancing in the Big City" (1978)
*"The Formula" (1980)
*"Neighbors" (1981)
*"A Night in Heaven" (1983)
*"The Karate Kid" (1984)
*"The Karate Kid Part II" (1986)
*"For Keeps" (1988)
*"Lean on Me" (1989)
*"The Karate Kid Part III" (1989)
*"Rocky V" (1990)
*"The Power of One" (1992)
*"8 Seconds" (1994)

External links

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Persondata
NAME= Avildsen, John G.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Film director
DATE OF BIRTH= December 21, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH= Oak Park, Illinois USA
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=