RIP: Richard Donner

Richard Donner died today at the age of 91.  This one hurts worse than most.

Richard Donner wanted a career as an actor.  It was director Martin Ritt who encouraged Donner to consider directing instead.  Ritt gave Donner a job as his assistant.  Later Donner graduated to a staff position at Desilu Productions where he directed commercials. 

In 1960, Mr. Donner began directing television episodes with the occasional feature film.  For the next 15 years Richard Donner directed well over 100 episodes of the best television had to offer.   Shows that I regularly watched that Mr. Donner directed episodes of include: The Rifleman; Combat; The Twilight Zone; The Man from UNCLE; Gilligan’s Island; Get Smart; The FBI; The Fugitive; It’s About Time; Jericho; The Wild, Wild West; The Banana Splits Adventure Hour / Danger Island; the Bearcats; Ironside and Cannon.

Richard Donner directed his first feature film in 1961.  Titled  X-15, it starred Charles Bronson and Mary Tyler Moore.  In 1976, Mr. Donner directed one of the biggest box office hits of the year with The Omen.  His next film was also a hit with fans and the box office: Superman.  The success of Superman allowed Richard Donner to add producer to his resume.  He would go on to produce 37 projects as he continued to direct feature films.  Following Superman, some of my favorite Richard Donner directed features include: Inside Moves; Ladyhawke; Lethal Weapon 1 -4; Maverick and Assassins.

Had Richard Donner only directed the Twilight Zone episode: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, he would have warranted a post about his passing.  Same could be said for Superman, the Lethal Weapon films and a personal favorite of mine, Assassins staring Sly Stallone.  I didn’t realize until I was a young adult how many television shows I loved as a child were directed by Richard Donner.  Any time you see Richard Donner in the credits, now you are in for a good time. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to Richard Donner’s family, friends and fans.