Richard Donner
Richard Donner (born Richard Donald Schwartzberg; April 24, 1930 – July 5, 2021) was an American filmmaker. 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 career spanning more than six decades 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.
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Acting
Movie
The Goonies
as Policeman (uncredited)
1985
Movie
Superman
as Man in Street (extended version) (uncredited)
1978
Movie
Superman II
as Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)
1980
Movie
16 Blocks
as Man Holding a Birthday Cake (uncredited)
2006
Movie
Maverick
as Dealer (uncredited)
1994
Movie
Conspiracy Theory
as Cab Passenger (uncredited)
1997
Movie
Timeline
as Man in Car (uncredited)
2003
TV
Tales from the Crypt
as Man at Bar (uncredited)
1989
Movie
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
as Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)
2006
Movie
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
as Self (archive footage)
2024
Movie
Out Cold
as Snooty Bartender (uncredited)
2001
TV
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
TV
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
as Inebriate
1964
Movie
Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics
2013
TV
Lassie
as Clay Braddock
1954
TV
Eli Roth's History of Horror
as Self
2018
Movie
Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics
as Self (archive footage)
2010
Movie
Casting By
as Self
2012
TV
Cursed Films
as Self - Director, The Omen
2020
Movie
Inside Moves
as Man who closes the ambulance doors (uncredited)
1980
Movie
Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman
as Self
2006
TV
Superpowered: The DC Story
as Self (archive footage)
2023
Movie
Life After Flash
as Self
2017
Movie
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
as Self - Filmmaker
2014
Crew
Movie
X-Men
Executive Producer
2000
Movie
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Executive Producer
2009
Movie
The Goonies
Director
1985
Movie
Lethal Weapon
Producer
1987
Movie
Superman
Director
1978
Movie
Lethal Weapon 2
Producer
1989
Movie
Lethal Weapon 3
Director
1992
Movie
Lethal Weapon 4
Director
1998
Movie
The Omen
Director
1976
Movie
The Lost Boys
Executive Producer
1987
Movie
16 Blocks
Director
2006
Movie
Free Willy
Executive Producer
1993