John G. Avildsen | |
|---|---|
 Avildsen in 1975 | |
| Born | John Guilbert Avildsen December 21, 1935 Oak Park, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 16, 2017 (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Johnny Avildsen |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1969–2017 |
| Spouses |
Tracy Brooks Swope
(m. 1987; sep. 2006) |
| Children | 6 |
| Signature | |
 | |
John Guilbert Avildsen (December 21, 1935 – June 16, 2017) was an American film director.
He is best known for directing Rocky (1976), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Director. He is also renowned for directing the first three films in The Karate Kid franchise (1984–1989). Other films he directed include Joe (1970), Save the Tiger (1973), The Formula (1980), Neighbors (1981), Lean on Me (1989), Rocky V (1990), 8 Seconds (1994), and Inferno (1999).