Richard Donner
Personal Info
Known for
Directing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1930-04-24
Day of Death
2021-07-05 (91 years old)
Place of Birth
Bronx, New York, USA
Richard Donner
Biography
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.
Acting
(2024)
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
as Self (archive footage)
(2019)
(2019)
Valerie
as Self
(2018)
Davi's Way
as Self
(2017)
(2017)
Life After Flash
as Self
(2016)
(2014)
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
as Self - Filmmaker
(2013)
(2013)
(2012)
(2012)
Casting By
as Self
(2010)
(2010)
Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics
as Self (archive footage)
(2009)
(2008)
Starz Inside: Comic Books Unbound
as Self - Director, Superman: The Movie
(2006)
(2006)
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
as Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)
(2006)
16 Blocks
as Man Holding a Birthday Cake (uncredited)
(2006)
(2006)
(2005)
The Curse of 'The Omen'
as Self
(2003)
Timeline
as Man in Car (uncredited)
(2001)
(2001)
(2001)
Out Cold
as Snooty Bartender (uncredited)
(2000)
(1997)
Conspiracy Theory
as Cab Passenger (uncredited)
(1995)
(1994)
Maverick
as Dealer (uncredited)
(1989)
First Works
as Self
(1986)
(1985)
The Goonies
as Policeman (uncredited)
(1980)
(1980)
Superman II
as Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)
(1980)
Inside Moves
as Man who closes the ambulance doors (uncredited)
(1978)
Superman
as Man in Street (extended version) (uncredited)
Crew
(2009)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Executive Producer
(2006)
16 Blocks
Director
(2006)
(2003)
Timeline
Director, Producer
(2002)
Ritual
Producer
(2000)
X-Men
Executive Producer
(1999)
Any Given Sunday
Executive Producer
(1999)
Made Men
Producer
(1999)
(1998)
Lethal Weapon 4
Director, Producer
(1997)
Conspiracy Theory
Director, Producer
(1997)
Double Tap
Producer
(1997)
Free Willy 3: The Rescue
Executive Producer
(1996)
Bordello of Blood
Executive Producer
(1995)
Assassins
Director, Producer
(1995)
Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight
Executive Producer
(1995)
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Executive Producer
(1995)
The Omen
Executive Producer
(1995)
W.E.I.R.D. World
Executive Producer
(1994)
Maverick
Director, Producer
(1993)
Free Willy
Executive Producer
(1992)
Lethal Weapon 3
Director, Producer
(1992)
Radio Flyer
Director
(1992)
Two-Fisted Tales
Director, Executive Producer
(1991)
Delirious
Executive Producer
(1989)
Lethal Weapon 2
Director, Producer
(1988)
Scrooged
Producer, Director
(1987)
Lethal Weapon
Director, Producer
(1987)
The Lost Boys
Executive Producer
(1985)
Ladyhawke
Director, Producer
(1985)
The Goonies
Director, Producer
(1982)
The Toy
Director
(1981)
The Final Conflict
Executive Producer
(1980)
Inside Moves
Director
(1980)
Superman II
Director of Photography
(1978)
Superman
Director
(1976)
The Omen
Director
(1975)
(1975)
Shadow in the Street
Director
(1974)
Senior Year
Director
(1974)
Lucas Tanner
Director
(1973)
Nightside
Director
(1972)
The Marshal of Madrid
Director
(1972)
Sam Cade
Director
(1970)
Twinky
Director
(1968)
Salt & Pepper
Director
(1963)
Philbert (Three's a Crowd)
Director
(1961)
X-15
Director