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John G. Avildsen Biography

Birth Name:John Guilbert Avildsen

Birth Place:Oak Park, Illinois, United States

Profession Director, Editor, Cinematographer, Producer, Writer, Camera department, Actor, Assistant director, Production manager, Editorial department

Fast Facts

  • Nominated for three Razzie Awards, including his work on "Rocky V", "The Karate Kid, Part 3" and "The Formula"
  • Started his career in show business as an assistant to directors Arthur Penn and Otto Preminger
  • Following Oscar success with "Rocky" and "Save the Tiger", he would go on to helm numerous other commercial hits including "The Karate Kid" and others
  • Began his directorial debut with several critical successes including 1970's "Joe" and later 1973's "Save the Tiger" and 1976's "Rocky"
  • Declined to direct numerous "Rocky" sequels, however, he would return to helm the franchise's final installment, "Rocky V"
  • Fired as the director from "Saturday Night Fever" and "Serpico" after disputes with producers of each film

Awards

  • 1977Oscar-Best Director: winner
  • 1977DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: winner
  • 1977Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1977Golden Spike-Best Film: nominated
  • 1978BAFTA Film Award-Best Direction: nominated
  • 1978Blue Ribbon Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
  • 1978Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
  • 1978Readers' Choice Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
  • 1981Razzie Award-Worst Director: nominated
  • 1983Oscar-Best Documentary, Short Subjects: nominated
  • 1990Razzie Award-Worst Director: nominated
  • 1991Razzie Award-Worst Director: nominated