American filmmaker Richard Donner, director of the film Superman (1978) and The lethal Weapon (1987), died Monday, July 5, at the age of 91, his wife, Lauren Shuler Donner, told the magazine Deadline.
Richard Donald Schwartzberg, whose real name was, was born on April 24, 1930 in New York. He changed his surname when he decided to become an actor. He had become famous with his first film as a director, The curse, released in 1976. An unprecedented offer at the time had followed: a million dollars to realize Superman, in 1978. He entrusted the title role to Christopher Reeve, who remained associated with this film all his life. In 1982, Donner realized The toy, with Richard Pryor. Then, in 1985, a children’s adventure film that became a classic, The Goonies, and Ladyhawke, the woman of the night.
It is this feature film that allows him to meet his future wife, Lauren Shuler Donner. They get married the following year. In 1993, the couple founded The Donners Company, which produced blockbuster films such as the franchise X-Men. Factoring in inflation, they generated over $ 1 billion in box office revenue.
In 1987, Richard Donner chose Mel Gibson and Danny Glover to play a mismatched police duo in the action film. The lethal Weapon. The feature film is a success and gives rise to several sequels and a television series. The director continues with the successful film Party ghosts with Bill Murray, in 1988, and Lethal Weapon 2 the next year. He also notably directed Maverick (1994) and Bobby’s Dream (1992). If a few Richard Donner films have been nominated for the Oscars, he has never been.
“Big heart” and “effervescent charm”
Tributes poured in on Monday. Director Steven Spielberg, who produced The Goonies, notably wrote in a press release that “Dick was so proficient in his films and was so good in so many genres. Being part of his circle was like hanging out with his favorite trainer, his smartest teacher, his most ferocious motivator, his most endearing friend, his most loyal ally and, of course, the greatest of the Goonies. He was a child. All the heart. All the time. I can’t believe he’s gone, but his hoarse warm laugh will always stay with me. “
Steven Spielberg reflects on the passing of Richard Donner, friend, and beloved director of THE GOONIES for Amblin… https://t.co/XFrZPazj9z
“He attracted attention and laughed like no man had ever laughed before, reacted Sean Astin, star of the film The Goonies. Dick was so funny. What I felt about him as a 12 year old was that he cared about others. I love how much he cared about others. “
Richard Donner had the biggest, boomiest voice you could imagine. He commanded attention and he laughed like no man… https://t.co/fPltZ2B2Ez
Actor Ben Stiller remembered the filmmaker as someone who “Made films with great spectacle”. “Films that remain in our consciousness. It has never been and never will be easy. I have always admired his work. “
Richard Donner made big time movies. Movies that remain in our consciousness. That never has been and never is easy… https://t.co/ij3YWIbYPJ
“Richard Donner’s big heart and effervescent charm shone in his films thanks to the remarkable performances of his actors, which is no small feat., for his part, greeted the filmmaker Edgar Wright. You remember all the characters from Superman, of The lethal Weapon, Goonies and many more, because Donner knew how to capture that magic onscreen. “
