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John G Avildsen, 'Rocky' and 'Karate Kid' Director, Dies at 81

Filmmaker won an Oscar for directing the original "Rocky" starring Sylvester Stallone in 1976

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Oscar winning-director John K. Avildsen has died in Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles Times. He was 81.

Avildsen won an University Award for directing the original 1976 "Rocky" starring Sylvester Stallone, and went on to direct all iii of the original "Karate Kid" films. Avildsen also won the DGA Honor for directing "Rocky," which earned Oscars for best movie and motion picture editing, and was nominated in multiple other categories.

A representative for Avildsen did not immediately respond to TheWrap's asking for comment.

Also Read: 'Rocky' Statue Closed past City of Philadelphia for Repairs

The highly-acclaimed filmmaker developed a reputation for making masterful movies about underdogs who become winners.

Avildsen was one time again nominated for an Oscar in 1983 for the documentary short "Traveling Hopefully." He later retuned to the "Rocky" franchise for the fifth installment in 1990.

Born in Oak Park, Illinois, Avildsen graduated from the prestigious Hotchkiss School and NYU. He started out in the flick industry as an assistant managing director on movies by Arthur Penn and Otto Preminger.

Avildsen'due south eldest son, Anthony, said his begetter died of pancreatic cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

A documentary on the director'due south life and career, "John K. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs" (2016), directed and produced by Derek Wayne Johnson, features interviews with Stallone, "Karate Kid" star Ralph Macchio, Martin Scorsese, Jerry Weintraub and Burt Reynolds. The documentary is a companion to the book "The Films of John Thousand. Avildsen: Rocky, The Karate Kid, and Other Underdogs," written past Larry Powell and Tom Garrett.

Avildsen is survived by a daughter, Bridget, and sons Anthony, Jonathan and Ashley.

Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2022 (Photos)

A look back at some of the notable people nosotros've lost this year.
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Tony Rosato

The actor, who appeared on "SCTV" and later joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" in 1981, died of a heart assail on Jan. ten at the age of 62.
William Peter Blatty

The author of the famed horror novel "The Exorcist," died from cancer on January. 12 at the age of 89.
Dick Gautier

The role player who starred in the original Broadway production of "Farewell Adieu Baboon" and played the role of Hymie the Robot on "Become Smart" died on Jan. 13 at the age of 85.

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Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka

The WWE legend died from stomach cancer on January. 15 at the age of 73. He was inducted into the WWF (at present WWE) Hall of Fame in 1996 and was as well the outset WrestleMania opponent of The Undertaker.

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Miguel Ferrer

The "NCIS: Los Angeles" star who played the role of Owen Granger died Jan. 19 from cancer at the historic period of 61.
Lee O'Denat aka "Q"

The founder and CEO of music and civilisation website WorldStarHipHop, Lee O'Denat, died on Jan. 23 in his slumber at the age of 43, according to TMZ.

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Mary Tyler Moore

The legendary half dozen-fourth dimension Emmy-winning star of the "Mary Tyler Moore Evidence" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show" died on Jan. 25 at the age of 80.
Mike Connors

The American actor, best known for playing a private eye on the long-running CBS action series "Mannix" (1967-75), died on Jan 26 at age 91.

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Barbara Unhurt

The actress best known for her role as legal secretarial assistant Della Street on the long-running legal drama "Perry Mason," died Jan. 27 at the age of 94.

Co-ordinate to the Washington Post, Unhurt died of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
John Injure

The Oscar-nominated British thespian whose career spanned six decades and starred in "The Elephant Man," "Alien" and iii "Harry Potter" movies died at the age of 77 on January 27. Hurt had been battling pancreatic cancer since 2015.

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Richard Hatch

Best known for playing Captain Apollo on the 1970s sci-fi tv serial "Battlestar Galactica," Hatch died at the age of 71 following a brief boxing with pancreatic cancer on Feb. vii.
Brenda Buttner

The senior concern correspondent and host of "Bulls and Bears" for the Flim-flam News Channel, Brenda Buttner died on Feb. twenty later a battle with cancer at the age of 55.
Neil Fingleton

The 7-foot, 7-inch Fingleton died Feb. 25 at age 36. He was best known for his part as the giant chosen Mag the Mighty on "Game of Thrones" and was Europe's tallest man.
Bill Paxton

The star of "Aliens" and "Titanic" died Feb. 26 due to complications from surgery. He was 61 years old.
Robert Osborne

Film historian and longtime host on Turner Classic Movies, Robert Osborne died Mar. 6 at the historic period of 84.
Joni Sledge

A fellow member of the 1970's musical grouping, Sister Sledge, known for their single "We Are Family unit," Sledge died Mar. x at 60-years-old.

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Auntie Fee

Felicia O'Dell, better known as Chef Sista Daughter or Auntie Fee, was a viral YouTube sensation known for her "good ass craven" died Mar. 17 later on suffering a center attack. She was 59-years-old.

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Chuck Berry

Chuck Drupe, singer and songwriter of stone and gyre classics such as "Maybellene," "Gyre Over Beethoven" and "Johnny B. Goode" died Mar. 18 at the age of 90.
Bernie Wrightson

The famed comic book artist known for co-creating the DC comic book monster Swamp Affair died Mar. 19 after a long battle with brain cancer at 68-years-erstwhile.
Jimmy Breslin

The Pulitzer-winning reporter and columnist whose life was as outsized as the New York City characters he depicted and exposed in print, died Mar. xix at the age of 88.

He was known for reporting on messages he received from "Son of Sam" serial killer, David Berkowitz in 1977 and exposed one of the urban center'south worst corruption scandals in the '80s.
Darlene Cates

The "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" mom died Mar. 26 peacefully in her sleep at the historic period of 69.
Don Rickles

Legendary stand-up comedian and actor all-time known as an insult comic, Rickles died Apr. 7 at the age of 90.
Charlie Murphy

The player and comedian -- the older brother of Eddie Murphy who was all-time known for his incredibly memorable stints on "Chappelle'due south Testify" -- died April 12 from complications from leukemia.
Erin Moran

Best known for playing Ron Howard's kid sis in the classic 1970s sitcom "Happy Days," Moran died Apr. 22 at the age of 56.
Jonathan Demme

The Oscar winning director of "The Silence of the Lambs" died Apr. 26 from esophageal cancer at the age of 73.
Michael Mantenuto

One of the stars of Disney'due south 2004 motion picture "Phenomenon," Mantenuto died at the age of 35 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Apr. 24.
Powers Boothe

The Emmy-winning character thespian, who had memorable stints on "Deadwood," "24," and "Nashville," died in his slumber of natural causes at age 68 on May xiv.
Brad Grey

The longtime producer, who also served as chairman and CEO of Paramount for 12 years, died May fourteen of cancer at age 59.
Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell, the grunge frontman of rock groups Soundgarden and Audioslave, died of a suicide by hanging on May 18, 2017. He was 52.

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Roger Ailes

The former Pull a fast one on News Chief, who resigned from the company in July after sometime ballast Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit that resulted in multiple women coming forward with similar claims died on May 18 at the age of 77.

According to a family friend who spoke with CNN, Ailes barbarous at his habitation in Palm Beach, Florida last calendar week, suffered complications, and slipped into a coma.
Gregg Allman

The organist and singer for The Allman Brothers, Stone & Curlicue Hall of Fame inductee Gregg Allman died peacefully in his sleep at his abode in Savannah, Georgia, at the historic period of 69, according to his official website. Allman helped create the Southern Rock genre, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Lisa Spoonauer

Best known equally Caitlin Bree in the 1994 film "Clerks," Spoonauer died at the age of 44. The moving picture'southward managing director, Kevin Smith, reported the news on June 6.
Adam Due west

The titular star of Boob tube's "Batman" from 1966-1968 died later battling leukemia at the age of 88 on June ix.
Martin Landau

The star of "Ed Wood," "N by Northwest" and the '60s TV series "Mission: Impossible" died July 15 at the age of 89 afterwards experiencing unexpected complications during a brusk hospitalization.
George Romero

The famed horror director who invented the modernistic zombie movie with 1968's "Nighttime of the Living Dead," died July xvi at historic period 77 after a curt battle with lung cancer.
Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington, the frontman of the 2000s rap-rock group Linkin Park, died of suicide by hanging on July twenty. He was 41.

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Sam Shepard

The author, playwright and actor, died on July 27 from complications of ALS. He was 73 years old.
Robert Hardy

The histrion, all-time known for playing Cornelius Fudge in the "Harry Potter" film franchise, died Aug. 3 at the age of 91.
Barbara Cook

A Broadway star and a dearest cabaret and concert performer, died at the age of 89 from respiratory failure on Aug. viii.
Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell, the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist and diversity Television receiver prove host, died on August viii. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's affliction late in 2010. Campbell was 81.

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Joseph Bologna

The actor, director, playwright, and Oscar-nominated screenwriter died Aug. xiii at the age of 82 afterwards losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.
Dick Gregory

The famed comedian and ceremonious rights activist died Aug. 19 at the historic period of 84 from heart failure.
Jerry Lewis

One of Hollywood's most famous comedians known for being one-half of a legendary comedy duo with Dean Martin, died Aug. 20 at the age of 91.
Thomas Meehan

The Tony Award-winning writer of "Annie," "Hairspray" and "The Producers," has died at the historic period of 88 on Aug. 22
Jay Thomas

Known for roles on "Thanks" and "Murphy Brown," Thomas died Aug. 24 at age 69 after a long battle with cancer.
Tobe Hooper

Tobe Hooper, the director of horror classics such as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Poltergeist," died on Aug. 26 at age 74.
Bernard Pomerance

Bernard Pomerance, the American playwright and poet who wrote the Tony-winning 1977 play "The Elephant Man," died Aug. 26 at the age of 74 from complications from cancer at his abode in Galisteo, New Mexico.
Coach Rollie Massimino

Longtime Villanova basketball game coach Rollie Massimino died Aug. thirty at the age of 82 after battling lung cancer.
Richard Anderson

Richard Anderson, an player known for "The Half-dozen Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman," died Aug. 31 at age 91.
Shelley Berman

Stand-up comedian and actor Shelley Berman, known for playing Larry David'south dad on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," died Sep. one due to complications from Alzheimer's Disease at the age of 92.
Walter Becker

Walter Becker, co-founding guitarist of the jazz rock band Steely Dan, died Sep. three at age 67.
John Ashbery

John Ashbery, the acclaimed Pulitzer-winning American poet who challenged readers with musical verses that often defied easy agreement, died Sep. 3 at age 90.
Elizabeth Kemp

Elizabeth Kemp, actress and famed teacher at the Actors Studio, died Sep. 1 at historic period 65.
Troy Gentry

Troy Gentry, ane one-half of Kentucky-based state music duo Montgomery Gentry, has died at the historic period of 50 after a tragic helicopter crash on Sep. 8.
Blake Heron

Blake Heron, the sometime kid actor best known for playing Marty Preston in the 1996 family flick "Shiloh," has died at the age of 35 on Sep. 8
Michael Friedman

Michael Friedman, a composer and lyricist whose musical "Encarmine Bloody Andrew Jackson" played on Broadway in 2010, died Sep. nine at age 41 from complications of HIV/AIDS
Len Wein

Len Wein, died Sep. 10 at age 69 after creating a plethora of comics universe characters including Wolverine and Swamp Thing.
Mike Hodge

Mike Hodge, an actor who appeared in recurring roles on "Constabulary & Order" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit of measurement" and was the president of SAG-AFTRA's New York chapter, died Sep. 9 at the historic period of seventy.
Don Ohlmeyer

Boob tube executive Don Ohlmeyer, who coined the phrase "Must See Television" in the 1990s, died Sep. 10, NBC'southward "Sunday Night Football game" play-by-play homo Al Michaels appear during tonight's telecast. Ohlmeyer was 72.
X Atencio

X Atencio, the legendary animator and imagineer behind classic Disney films such equally "Pinocchio" and "Fantasia," died Sep. 10 at the age of 98.
Mark LaMura

Mark LaMura, the actor all-time known for playing Mark Dalton on the late, dandy ABC soap "All My Children," died Sep. 11 at the age of 68 after a battle with lung cancer.
Edith Windsor

Edith Windsor, LGBTQ activist and lead plaintiff in a pivotal Supreme Court union-equality case, died Sep. 12 at historic period 88.
Jessi Zazu

Jessi Zazu, frontwoman for the Nashville-based alt-country band Those Darlins, died on Sep. 12 at age 28 after a boxing with cervical cancer.
Frank Vincent

Frank Vincent, a character player best known for roles as Italian mafia members, has died at the age of 78 on Sep. thirteen.
Grant Hart

Grant Hart, drummer and singer of the alternative rock band Hüsker Dü, died at 56-years-sometime on Sep. 13.
Michelle Rounds

Michelle Rounds, Rosie O'Donnell'due south ex-married woman, died Monday, Sept. eleven, at historic period 46 by apparent suicide.
Harry Dean Stanton

Harry Dean Stanton, who worked in Hollywood for over 60 years, died Sep. 15, at historic period 91 from natural causes.
Lillian Ross

Lillian Ross, longtime reporter for The New Yorker, died Sep. 20 at the age of 99.
Bernie Casey

Bernie Casey, who played national Tri Lams fraternity head U.N. Jefferson in the 1984 one-act "Revenge of the Nerds" and its sequels, died Sep. 19 at 78-years-old.
David Lyle

David Lyle, quondam head of National Geographic Channels and FremantleMedia N America, died Sep. 21 at 67 later on battling cancer.
Charles Bradley

Acclaimed soul vocalizer Charles Bradley who released his get-go album at the age of 62, died Sep. 23 at 68 following a long tour with cancer.
Jan Triska

Jan Triska, a Czech thespian who starred in such Hollywood movies every bit "Ronin" and "Ragtime," died Sep. 25 after a fall 2 days before from Prague's iconic Charles Bridge. He was lxxx years old.
Barry Dennen

Barry Dennen, member of the original bandage of "Jesus Christ Superstar," died Sep. 24 at age 79 in hospice care in Burbank later on suffering a brain injury from a fall in June.
Paul Horner

Paul Horner, a author of "simulated news" who claimed to influence the 2022 ballot with his widely discredited stories, was found dead exterior Phoenix on Sep. 18 at the age of 38.
Hugh Hefner

Playboy founder and icon Hugh Hefner died on Sep. 27 at the age of 91 from natural causes.
SI Newhouse Jr.

S.I. Newhouse Jr., who ran the Conde Nast publishing empire that included mag giants such as Vanity Fair, Vogue and The New Yorker, died Oct. one at the historic period of 89.
Tom Petty

The leader singer of the Heartbreakers and a successful solo creative person, known for hits similar "Free Fallin'" and "Learning to Fly," died at age 66 on Oct. two subsequently existence institute unconscious in his Malibu habitation the previous dark.
Charles 'Chuck' Low

Charles "Chuck" Low, a military vet turned real estate developer turned "Goodfellas" actor, died peacefully in his sleep on Sep. eighteen at historic period 89.
Hervé L Leroux

French fashion designer Hervé L. Leroux, known for his bandage dresses, died Oct. six at age 60.
Connie Hawkins

NBA legend Connie "The Militarist" Hawkins, known for being a ability frontward known for his massive easily, scoop shots and football-similar passes, died October. 6 at historic period 75.
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Philip Reitnour

Philip Reitnour, who appeared on "Shark Tank" in 2022 to pitch his app EmergenSee, has been found dead in Philadelphia's Schuylkill river at the age of 58.
John Dunsworth

John Dunsworth, star of the hit Canadian Telly serial "Trailer Park Boys," died Oct. sixteen at age 71.
Mychael Knight

Mychael Knight, a fashion designer who competed on the reality competition serial "Projection Runway," died Oct. 17 at historic period 39.
Gord Downie

The Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie died Oct. 17 at age 53 after beingness diagnosed with a brain tumor in May.
Danielle Darrieux

Danielle Darrieux, the French actress whose career on screen and phase spanned viii decades and was known for "8 Women," died at the age of 100 on Oct. nineteen.
Brent Briscoe

Brent Briscoe, a graphic symbol player known for roles in David Lynch'southward "Twin Peaks" and "Mulholland Drive," as well equally "The Light-green Mile" and "Sling Blade," died at age 56 on October. 20.

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Robert Guillaume

Robert Guillaume, a two-time Emmy winner for his graphic symbol Benson DuBois on "Lather" and the spinoff "Benson," also as the vocalisation of Rafiki in "The Lion Male monarch," died after a battle with prostate cancer on October. 24. He was 89.

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Fats Domino

Rock and roll fable Fats Domino, known for singles like "Own't That A Shame," "I'm Walkin" and "Blueberry Hill," died at age 89 on Oct. 24.
Brad Bufanda

"Veronica Mars" player Brad Bufanda died past suicide on Nov. 3. He was 34.

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John Hillerman

John Hillerman, the Emmy-winning actor who portrayed Higgins opposite Tom Selleck on "Magnum P.I.," died of natural causes on Nov. 9. He was 84.
Chuck Mosley

Charles Henry Mosley Three, a former singer for the band Faith No More, died "due to the illness of addiction" on Nov. ten. He was 57.
Liz Smith

Liz Smith, a legendary New York gossip columnist who helped conductor in an era of glory journalism, died on November. 12 at the age of 94.

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Lil Peep

Gustav Ahr, a rising rap star who performed under the name Lil Peep after releasing his first total album in Baronial, died of a suspected overdose at the historic period of 21.

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Jack Blessing

Jack Blessing, an role player known for his roles on "Moonlighting," "The Naked Truth" and "George Lopez," died following a battle with pancreatic cancer on November fourteen. He was 66.
Earle Hyman

Earle Hyman, who played Granddaddy Huxtable on "The Cosby Prove" in addition to a career on stage every bit a Shakespearean histrion, died Nov. 17 at age 91.

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Malcolm Immature

Malcolm Young, 1 of the founding guitarists of stone band Ac/DC, died on Nov. eighteen after contesting dementia. He was 64.

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Mel Tillis

Country music star Mel Tillis, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, died of suspected respiratory failure on Nov. 19. He was 85.

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Charles Manson

Charles Manson, the con human being, cult leader and criminal who led the Manson Family murders in the '60s, died on November. 19. He was 83.

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Jana Novotna

Jana Novotna, a Czech lawn tennis champion who won Wimbledon in 1998, died after a battle with cancer on Nov. 19. She was 49.

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Della Reese

Della Reese, a jazz and pop vocalist who also starred on "Touched by an Angel," died on Nov. 19. She was 86.

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Peter Baldwin

Peter Baldwin, an Emmy-winning manager of "The Wonder Years," "The Brady Bunch" and "Sanford and Son," died on November. 19. He was 86.

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David Cassidy

David Cassidy, the star of "The Partridge Family" and a teen heartthrob from the '70s, died on Nov. 21 after being placed into a medically-induced coma. He was 67.

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Tommy Keene

Tommy Keene, a power popular singer-songwriter popular in the '80s, died on Nov. 22 at the age of 59.

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Rance Howard

Rance Howard, an actor who appeared in 15 films directed by his son Ron Howard, died on Nov. 26. He was 89.

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Ken Shapiro

Ken Shapiro, a writer and director of Chevy Chase'southward debut flick from 1974 "The Groove Tube," died of cancer on November. 27. He was 76.
Jim Nabors

Jim Nabors, who played Gomer Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show" and on "Gomer Pyle: USMC," died on Nov. 30. He was 87.

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Heather Northward

Heather North, an actress best known for voicing Daphne on the animated series "Scooby-Doo," diec Nov 30 at age 71.
Charlie Dark-green Jr.

YouTube star Charlie Greenish Jr., better known equally Aroused Gramps, died on Dec. x afterward a boxing with pare cancer. He was 67.
Bruce Chocolate-brown

Bruce Brownish, managing director of the surfing documentary from 1966 "Endless Summertime," died of natural causes on December. 10. He was 80.

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Pat DiNizio

Pat DiNizio, lead vocalizer and songwriter of the New Bailiwick of jersey rock ring The Smithereens, died on December. 12. He was 62.

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Bob Givens

Bob Givens, a veteran animator who helped design such classic characters equally Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, died Dec. 14 at age 99.

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Kim Jong-hyun

Kim Jong-hyun, also known as Jonghyun as part of the Grand-pop group SHINee, died on Dec. 18 at the age of 27. His decease is being investigated as a possible suicide.

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Jordan Feldstein

Hashemite kingdom of jordan Feldstein, the manager of Maroon 5 and other music stars, died Dec. 23 of an apparent middle assault at age 40. He was too the older brother of actors Jonah Loma and Beanie Feldstein.

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William W. Graham

William Westward. Graham, a scion of the iconic Washington Mail service publishers Phil and Katharine Graham, died at age 69 every bit a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. News of the suicide was first reported by the Post in an official obituary on Dec. 24.
Heather Menzies-Urich

Heather Menzies-Urich, the extra best known for playing the second-oldest Von Trapp girl Louisa in the Oscar-winning musical motion picture "The Sound of Music," died Dec. 24 at age 68.
Kent Damon

Kent Damon, father to actor Matt Damon, died of cancer on Dec. 23. He was 74.

Kent Damon, left, and Matt Damon in 2010 (Bryce Vickmark/Getty Images)
Alfie Curtis

Alfie Curtis, an actor known for appearing in the original "Star Wars" and the 1980 motion-picture show "The Elephant Homo," died on Dec. 26. His crusade of decease is not however known. He was 87.

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Amanda Davis

Veteran Atlanta morning news anchor of CBS46 Amanda Davis died of a stroke on December. 27. She was 62.

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Rose Marie

Rose Marie, an actress known for her roles in "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Doris Twenty-four hour period Show," as well as in appearances on "Hollywood Squares," died on December. 28. She was 94.

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Sue Grafton

Sue Grafton, the mystery novelist best known for an alphabet-titled serial of novels beginning with "A Is for Alibi," died in her Santa Barbara abode at age 77.

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Daniel Talbot

Daniel Talbot, the indie moving picture icon whose New Yorker Films handled the U.S. release of classics from Bertolucci, Godard, Louis Malle and Errol Morris, died on December 29. He was in his early on 90s.

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