Background
Avildsen, John Guilbert was born on December 21, 1935 in Chikago, Illinois, United States. He was a son of Clarence John and Ivy (Guilbert) Avildsen.
Avildsen, John Guilbert was born on December 21, 1935 in Chikago, Illinois, United States. He was a son of Clarence John and Ivy (Guilbert) Avildsen.
Student, New York University in 1955. Served with the United States Army in1959-1961.
Avildsen worked as an assistant director and as a cameraman, and he had credits on Mickey One (65, Arthur Penn), Hurry Sundown (67, Otto Preminger), and Out of It (69, Paul Williams), before he made his own breakthrough with Joe, in which Peter Boyle played a blue-collar bigot.
Since then, Avildsen has handled a best picture Oscar-winner (Rocky) and brought a trio of Karate Kids to fruition without demonstrating an atom of character. Far more interesting are the truly scabrous Save the Tiger and Neighbors, which was a decent shot at the delirious narrative spiral of Thomas Berger’s novel.
Served with United States Army, 1959-1961. Member Directors Guild American, Motion Picture Photographers Union, Motion Picture Editors Union.
Married Tracy Brooks Swope, February, 1987. Children: Anthony Guilbert, Jonathan, Bridget Emily Margaret.