Hollywood Director Richard Donner Dies At 91

Prolific director, best known for his work on the first superman movie and in the “lethal weapon film” series Richard Donner has died at 91.

Having worked on multiple projects, Donner started his career directing for television. His TV credits include a long list of staple shows from the ’60s including Route 66, The Rifleman, The Twilight Zone, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Gilligan’s Island, Perry Mason and The Wild Wild West. His debut feature X-15 in 1961 with Charles Bronson (and a young Mary Tyler Moore) was followed by the 1968 crime comedy Salt & Pepper starring Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford, and 1969’s Lola with Charles Bronson and Susan George. He segued to films full time with 1976’s spooky The Omen.

This led to 1978’s Superman, the original superhero movie that starred Reeve as the Man of Steel along with Margot Kidder.The Warner Bros blockbuster had a budget of about $55 million and grossed more than $300 million at the global box office.

Being the first movie based on a superhero comic character, it scored three Oscar nominations and won a special Academy Award for its visual effects.

His mid-’80s movies were followed by another franchise-launching blockbuster at Warner Bros, 1987’s Lethal Weapon. The film included a role that turned Mad Max star Gibson into a global superstar. Donner directed all four of the Lethal Weapon movies in an 11-year span. They grossed more than $900 million globally.

Donner’s passing was announced by his production company. According to his wife and his business manager, producer Lauren Donner, He passed away on Monday. No cause of death has been revealed.

Donner and his producer-wife Lauren Schuler Donner produced dozens of films under their The Donners’ Company production banner including the X-Men franchise.