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John G. Avildsen
Oak Park, Illinois, USA
John Guilbert Avildsen (December 21, 1935 – June 16, 2017) was an American film director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1977 for Rocky. Other films he directed in…
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John Guilbert Avildsen (December 21, 1935 – June 16, 2017) was an American film director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1977 for Rocky. Other films he directed include Joe, Save the Tiger, Fore Play, The Formula, Neighbors, For Keeps, Lean on Me, The Power of One, 8 Seconds, Inferno, Rocky V and the first three The Karate Kid films. Avildsen was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Ivy (née Guilbert) and Clarence John Avildsen. He was educated at The Hotchkiss School and New York University. After starting out as an assistant director on films by Arthur Penn and Otto Preminger, John Avildsen received his first success with the low budget feature Joe (1970) which received critical acclaim for star Peter Boyle and moderate box office business. This was followed by another critical success, Save the Tiger (1973), that was nominated for three Oscars, winning Best Actor for star Jack Lemmon. Avildsen's greatest success was Rocky (1976), garnering ten Academy Award nominations and winning three, including Best Picture and Best Director. He later directed what was expected to be the series' final installment, Rocky V (1990). His other films include Cry Uncle! (1971), Neighbors (1981), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), Lean on Me (1989) and 8 Seconds (1994). Avildsen was the original director for both Serpico (1973) and Saturday Night Fever (1977), but was fired over disputes with producers Martin Bregman and Robert Stigwood, respectively.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2026
May Day x 4
Movie Cinematography
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2022
Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky
Movie Himself
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2020
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2017
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2017
Frank Serpico
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2017
American Satan
Movie Talk Show Host
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2017
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Movie Self
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2015
The Real Miyagi
Movie Self
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2014
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Movie Self - Director
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2011
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance
Movie Self
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2006
Tribute To James Crabe
Movie Himself
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2005
Make Your Own Damn Movie!
Movie Himself
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2005
The Way of The Karate Kid
Movie Self - Director / Academy Award Winner
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2002
Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon
Movie Self
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1999
Inferno
Movie Director
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1997
Sports on the Silver Screen
Movie Self (archive footage)
More credits
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1994
8 Seconds
Movie Director
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1993
The Troma System
Movie Self
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1992
The Power of One
Movie Director
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1990
Rocky V
Movie Director
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1989
The Karate Kid Part III
Movie Director
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1989
Lean On Me
Movie Director
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1988
For Keeps
Movie Director
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1987
Happy New Year
Movie Director
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1986
The Karate Kid Part II
Movie Director
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1984
The Karate Kid
Movie Director
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1983
A Night in Heaven
Movie Director
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1982
Traveling Hopefully
Movie Director
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1981
Neighbors
Movie Director
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1980
The Formula
Movie Director
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1978
Slow Dancing In The Big City
Movie Director
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1976
Rocky
Movie Director
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1975
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
Movie Director
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1975
Fore Play
Movie Director
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1973
Save the Tiger
Movie Director
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1972
The Stoolie
Movie Cinematography
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1971
Okay Bill
Movie Director
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1971
Cry Uncle!
Movie Director
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1971
Guess What We Learned in School Today?
Movie Story
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1970
Joe
Movie Director
