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Photo of George P. Cosmatos

George P. Cosmatos

Director, Actor, Writer, Producer, Additional Credits
Born January 4, 1941Died April 19, 2005 (64 years)
George Pan Cosmatos (January 4, 1941 in Florence, Italy - April 19, 2005 in Victoria, Canada) was a Greek/Italian film director. After studying film in London, he became assistant director to Otto Preminger on Exodus (1960), Leon Uris's epic about the birth of Israel. Thereafter he worked on Zorba the Greek (1964), in which Cosmatos had a small part as Boy with Acne. Cosmatos grew up in Egypt and Cyprus and is said to have spoken six languages. He was famous in Italy for the movies Rappresaglia (1973) with Marcello Mastroianni and The Cassandra Crossing (1976) with Sophia Loren. In 1979, he made the famous and successful World War II adventure movie Escape to Athena, starring a gigantic all star cast including Roger Moore, David Niven, Telly Savalas, Elliot Gould and Claudia Cardinale. Cosmatos was nominated for a 1985 Golden Raspberry Award for his role as director of Rambo: First Blood Part II starring Sylvester Stallone. He also directed another Stallone vehicle, Cobra, in 1986.

Late in his career, Cosmatos received more praise for Tombstone, a 1993 Western movie about Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. This film was particularly praised for the exceptional performance of Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. After his death it was revealed by Tombstone star Kurt Russell that Cosmatos had ghost-directed the movie on Russell's behalf. Sylvester Stallone recommended Cosmatos after the departure of the first director, and informed Russell that Cosmatos had also ghost-directed Rambo: First Blood Part II on Stallone's behalf.

George P. Cosmatos died of lung cancer on April 19, 2005 at the age of 64.

Description above from the Wikipedia article George P. Cosmatos, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • The Cassandra Crossing
  • Escape to Athena

Known For

  • Rambo: First Blood Part II
  • Tombstone
  • Leviathan
  • Cobra
  • The Cassandra Crossing
  • Escape to Athena
  • Shadow Conspiracy
  • Of Unknown Origin
  • Massacre in Rome
  • Sin
  • The Day the Fish Came Out
  • Assignment Skybolt
  • The Steps

George P. Cosmatos Filmography

1966
The Steps · as Mule Driver
1964
Zorba the Greek · as Acne Faced Boy

2002
1986
1985
1985
1985
1971
V.I.P.-Schaukel (TV Series) · as Self
1952
Today (TV Series) · as Self

1973
Massacre in Rome · as Screenplay

1971

1979
1976
1971
Sin · as Theatre Play
1968
Assignment Skybolt · as Assistant Director
1967
The Day the Fish Came Out · as Assistant Director

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