Background
Avildsen was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Ivy (née Guilbert) and Clarence John Avildsen.
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John Guilbert Avildsen
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Education
New York University.
Career
Other films he directed include Joe, Save the Tiger, Fore Play, The Formula, Neighbors, Foreign Keeps, Lean on Maine, The Power of One, 8 Seconds, Inferno, Rocky V and the first three Karate Kid movies. He was educated at The Hotchkiss School and New York University. After starting out as an assistant director on films by Arthur Penn and Otto Preminger, John Avildsen received his first success with the low budget feature Joe which received critical acclaim for star Peter Boyle and moderate box office business.
This was followed by another critical success,, that was nominated for three Oscars, winning Best Actor for star Jack Lemmon.
Both Joe and Save the Tiger were about losers, but as the 70s ended, Avildsen did films on winners. He later directed what was expected to be the series" final installment.
His other films include,,,,,, and Avildsen was the original director for both Serpico (1973) and Saturday Night Fever (1977), but was fired over disputes with producers Martin Bregman and Robert Stigwood, respectively.
Avildsen has an estranged son named Ash (born November 5, 1981), who founded Sumerian Records.
He also has another son, Jonathan Avildsen, who was in the films The Karate Kid III and Rocky V. An upcoming documentary on the life, career and films of Avildsen is currently in production. John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs (2016) is directed and produced by Derek Wayne Johnson and features interviews with Sylvester Stallone, Ralph Macchio, Martin Scorsese, Jerry Weintraub, Burt Reynolds and many more.
Achievements
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Born
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Nationality
United States