John G. Avildsen, the Academy Award-winning director passed away at an age of 81. The renowned director directed the popular movie Rocky and the first three parts of original Karate Kid movies. He was battling pancreatic cancer and was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He started his cine career as a cinematographer and shot his directorial debut, Turn on to Love in 1969. He received an Oscar nomination in 1983 for his documentary short film Traveling Hopefully. He also directed Susan Sarandon and Peter Boyle in the ultimately violent drama Joe in the year 1970.
The franchise, The Karate Kid (1984), which starred Pat Morita as an Okinawan martial arts master who agrees to teach karate to a bullied teenager, brought in almost a quarter-billion dollars at the Box Office.
Also known for helming films like Rocky V (1990), W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975), Neighbors (1981), Lean on Me (1989), and 8 Seconds (1994), Avildsen was the subject of a documentary, John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs, that premiered this year at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Many prominent faces of movies directed by John G. Avildsen are paying their heart-felt tribute to the deceased director. Hollywood actors Sylvester Stallone and Ralph Macchio, among other celebrities, took to social media and remembered the Oscar-winning director.
Here are some reactions on the social media:
Carl Weathers, who played Apollo Creed in four 'Rocky' movies, took to Twitter and wrote, "Your filmmaking legacy remains. #BeLove."
The Karate Kid' actor, Ralph Macchio, also paid tribute to the great director and tweeted, "RIP to my friend and KK director John G Avildsen. He brought inspirational stories to us all and had a guiding hand in changing my life."
'Rocky' star Sylvester Stallone took to Instagram and expressed his thoughts by writing, "The great director John G. Avildsen Who won the Oscar for directing Rocky! R. I. P. I'm sure you will soon be directing Hits in Heaven- Thank you , Sly."
