
John G. Avildsen
Biography
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.
Acting (13 movies)

Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
2017

Sports on the Silver Screen
1997

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
2014

The Real Miyagi
2015

John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
2017

Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky
2022

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
2020

The Troma System
1993

Greenwich Village Story
1963

American Satan
2017

Frank Serpico
2017

The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance
2011

Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon
2002
Directing (26 movies)

Rocky
1976

Rocky V
1990

The Karate Kid
1984

The Karate Kid Part III
1989

Inferno
1999

A Night In Heaven
1983

The Formula
1980

The Karate Kid Part II
1986

For Keeps
1988

The Power of One
1992

Lean On Me
1989

W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
1975

Joe
1970

Save the Tiger
1973

8 Seconds
1994

Neighbors
1981

Smiles
1964

Fore Play
1975

Cry Uncle!
1971

Happy New Year
1987

Traveling Hopefully
1982

Slow Dancing In The Big City
1978

Guess What We Learned in School Today?
1971

The Stoolie
1972

Okay Bill
1971

Turn On to Love
1969
| Title | Year | Job | 
|---|---|---|
| Smiles | 1964 | Producer | 
| Mickey One | 1965 | Executive Producer | 
| Okay Bill | 1971 | Writer | 
| Slow Dancing In The Big City | 1978 | Producer | 
| Traveling Hopefully | 1982 | Producer | 
| Lean On Me | 1989 | Executive Producer | 
| American Satan | 2017 | Executive Producer |