Richard Donner
Producer, Director, Actor
April 24, 1930 — July 5, 2021 (91 years)
Richard Donner (born Richard Donald Schwartzberg; April 24, 1930–July 5, 2021) was an American film director and producer. Described as "one of Hollywood's most reliable makers of action blockbusters," Donner directed some of the most financially successful films of the 1970s and 1980s. His 50-year career crossed genres and influenced trends among filmmakers across the world.
Donner began his career in 1957 as a television director. In the 1960s, he directed episodes of the series The Rifleman, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Fugitive, The Twilight Zone, The Banana Splits, and many others. Donner made his film debut with the low-budget aviation drama X-15 in 1961 but had his critical and commercial breakthrough with the horror film The Omen in 1976. He directed the landmark superhero film Superman in 1978, which provided an inspiration for the fantasy film genre to eventually gain artistic respectability and commercial dominance. Donner later went on to direct films in the 1980s such as The Goonies and Scrooged, while reinvigorating the buddy cop film genre with the Lethal Weapon series.
Donner and his wife, Lauren, owned a production company, The Donners' Company, which is most successful for producing the Free Willy and X-Men film franchises. Donner also produced Tales from the Crypt and co-wrote several comic books for Superman publisher DC Comics. In 2000, Donner received the President's Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Richard Donner, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Donner began his career in 1957 as a television director. In the 1960s, he directed episodes of the series The Rifleman, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Fugitive, The Twilight Zone, The Banana Splits, and many others. Donner made his film debut with the low-budget aviation drama X-15 in 1961 but had his critical and commercial breakthrough with the horror film The Omen in 1976. He directed the landmark superhero film Superman in 1978, which provided an inspiration for the fantasy film genre to eventually gain artistic respectability and commercial dominance. Donner later went on to direct films in the 1980s such as The Goonies and Scrooged, while reinvigorating the buddy cop film genre with the Lethal Weapon series.
Donner and his wife, Lauren, owned a production company, The Donners' Company, which is most successful for producing the Free Willy and X-Men film franchises. Donner also produced Tales from the Crypt and co-wrote several comic books for Superman publisher DC Comics. In 2000, Donner received the President's Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Richard Donner, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Filmography
| 2012 | Black & White in Colors · as Associate Producer |
| 2009 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine · as Executive Producer |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | |
| 2002 | |
| 2000 | X-Men · as Executive Producer |
| 1999 | Any Given Sunday · as Executive Producer |
| 1999 | |
| 1998 | |
| 1997 | Double TapOn Plex |
| 1997 | |
| 1997 | Free Willy 3: The Rescue · as Executive Producer |
| 1997 | Perversions of Science · as Executive Producer |
| 1996 | Secrets of the Cryptkeeper's Haunted House · as Executive Producer |
| 1996 | Bordello of Blood · as Executive Producer |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | W.E.I.R.D. World · as Executive ProducerOn Plex |
| 1995 | The Omen · as Executive Producer |
| 1995 | Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home · as Executive Producer |
| 1995 | Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight · as Executive Producer |
| 1994 | Free Willy The Animated Series · as Executive Producer |
| 1994 | |
| 1993 | Tales From the Cryptkeeper · as Executive Producer |
| 1993 | Free Willy · as Executive Producer |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | Two-Fisted Tales · as Executive Producer |
| 1991 | Delirious · as Executive ProducerOn Plex |
| 1989 | |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt · as Executive Producer |
| 1988 | |
| 1987 | The Lost Boys · as Executive Producer |
| 1987 | |
| 1985 | |
| 1985 | LadyhawkeOn Plex |
| 1981 | The Final Conflict · as Executive Producer |
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| 1985 | LadyhawkeOn Plex |
| 1982 | |
| 1980 | Inside MovesOn Plex |
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| 1970 | London AffairOn Plex |
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| 1960 | Route 66On Plex |
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| 1958 | The RiflemanOn Plex |
| 1958 | Wanted: Dead or AliveOn Plex |
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| 1953 |
| 2009 | Hollywood's Best Film Directors · as Cast |
| 2006 | Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut · as Man Walking By Diner (uncredited) |
| 2006 | 16 Blocks · as Man Holding A Birthday Cake (uncredited) |
| 2003 | Timeline · as Man In Car (uncredited) |
| 2001 | Out Cold · as Snooty Bartender (uncredited) |
| 2000 | |
| 1997 | Conspiracy Theory · as Cab Passenger (uncredited) |
| 1996 | Sex and the Silver Screen · as Quote Reader |
| 1996 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1994 | Maverick · as Dealer (uncredited) |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt · as Man At Bar (uncredited) |
| 1985 | The Goonies · as Policeman (uncredited) |
| 1980 | Inside Moves · as Man Who Closes The Ambulance Doors (uncredited)On Plex |
| 1980 | Superman II · as Man Walking By Diner (uncredited) |
| 1978 | Superman · as Man In Street (extended Version) (uncredited) |
| 1975 | Bronk · as African-American Prostitute's John |
| 1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. · as Inebriate |
| 1962 | The Eleventh Hour · as Arnold Hardy |
| 1962 | Sam Benedict · as Grover Stann |
| 1954 | Lassie · as Clay Braddock |