Noteworthy Deaths

Rocky, The Karate Kid director Avildsen

LOS ANGELES -- John Avildsen, who directed Rocky and The Karate Kid, died Friday at age 81.

Anthony Avildsen said his father died Friday in Los Angeles from pancreatic cancer.

Rocky won Oscars for best picture, director and editing, and it was nominated for seven others. Rocky was a chance venture for Avildsen. Sylvester Stallone, then unknown, had written the script and sought Avildsen to direct it, but Avildsen was already working on another film. Suddenly the production company ran out of money and that film was canceled.

A friend sent Avildsen the Rocky script. Avildsen agreed to direct the movie even though he knew nothing about boxing.

Stallone praised the director Friday night for believing in him.

"I owe just about everything to John Avildsen. His directing, his passion, his toughness and his heart -- a great heart -- is what made 'Rocky' the film it became," Stallone wrote in a statement. "He changed my life and I will be forever indebted to him. Nobody could have done it better than my friend John Avildsen. I will miss him."

Five sequels followed, but Avildsen didn't choose to direct them, until Rocky V in 1990.

The Karate Kid was another surprise hit. Released in the summer of 1984, The Karate Kid attracted millions of youngsters and earned Noryuki "Pat" Morita, a veteran performer best known for his TV roles, an Oscar nomination as best supporting actor.

Avildsen also directed The Karate Kid, Part II in 1986 and The Karate Kid, Part III in 1989.

John Guilbert Avildsen was born in 1935 in Oak Park, Ill., the son of a tool manufacturer. He attended New York University, then worked as an advertising copywriter. He spent two years in the Army as a chaplain's assistant.

Metro on 06/18/2017

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