Bob Rafelson

Bob Rafelson
Rafelson in 2009
Born
Robert Rafelson

(1933-02-21)February 21, 1933
New York City, U.S
DiedJuly 23, 2022(2022-07-23) (aged 89)
EducationDartmouth College
Occupations
  • Film director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
Years active1959–2002
Spouses
Toby Carr
(m. 1955; div. 1977)
Gabrielle Taurek
(m. 1999)
Children4

Robert Jay Rafelson (February 21, 1933 – July 23, 2022) was an American film director, writer and producer. He is regarded as one of the key figures in the founding of the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s. Among his best-known films as a director include those made as part of the company he co-founded, Raybert/BBS Productions, Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) as well as acclaimed later films, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) and Mountains of the Moon (1990). Other films he produced as part of BBS include two of the most significant films of the era, Easy Rider (1969) and The Last Picture Show (1971). Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces and The Last Picture Show were all chosen for inclusion in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. He was also one of the creators of the pop group and TV series The Monkees with BBS partner Bert Schneider. His first wife was the production designer Toby Carr Rafelson.