John Gilbert Avildsen (born December 21, 1935 in Oak Park, Illinois) is an American film director.

His movies include Guess What We Learned in School (1968), Cry Uncle (1970), Joe (1970), Rocky (1976) and Rocky V (1990) with Sylvester Stallone, and The Karate Kid (1984), with Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. He also directed the acclaimed Save the Tiger, starring Jack Lemmon, Lean on Me (1989), starring Morgan Freeman as the no-nonsense high school principal Joe Clark, and 8 Seconds (1994), starring Luke Perry A recurring theme in many of Avildsen's movies is the triumph of an underdog character over adversity.

Avildsen won an Academy Award for directing Rocky.

Trivia

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Avildsen's son, Ash, is the lead singer for the metallic hardcore band Reflux, though, as Ash is very quick to point out, the two allegedly have absolutely no personal relationship. A very bitter Ash once wrote his side of the story on the band's official website in response to the endless queries as to whether his father was indeed the famous director, but it has since been taken down.

External links

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1935 births | Living people | American film directors | Best Director Academy Award winners | Worst Director Razzie Nominee | People from Illinois | English-language film directors

John G. Avildsen | John G. Avildsen | John G. Avildsen | John G. Avildsen | John G. Avildsen