John G. Avildsen

Career Overview

John G. Avildsen has 76 screen credits in a career dating back to 1953. Their work spans 5 cinematic universes — most prominently The Karate Kid with 3 titles. Signature works include Rocky, The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Directing
Gender: male
Known Credits: 76
Birth Date: 1935-12-21
Birth Place: Oak Park, Illinois, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 5 universes

The Karate Kid (3 titles)
Rocky (2 titles)
Argento Three Mothers (1 titles)
Suspiria Series (1 titles)
Karate Kid Series (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Ralph Macchio (3 collaborations)
Pat Morita (3 collaborations)
Martin Kove (3 collaborations)
Pat E. Johnson (3 collaborations)
Bruce Malmuth (3 collaborations)
Sylvester Stallone (2 collaborations)
Talia Shire (2 collaborations)
Burt Young (2 collaborations)
Burgess Meredith (2 collaborations)
Jimmy Gambina (2 collaborations)

Credits

crew (5 credits)
- May Day x 4
  cinematography
  
  crew
  
  2026
- Traveling Hopefully
  cinematography
  
  crew
  
  1982
- The Stoolie
  cinematography
  
  crew
  
  1972
- Okay Bill
  cinematography
  
  crew
  
  1971
- Cry Uncle!
  additional dialogue
  
  crew
  
  1971
directing (29 credits)
- A Fine and Private Place
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- Inferno
  director
  
  directing
  
  1999
- 8 Seconds
  director
  
  directing
  
  1994
- The Power of One
  director
  
  directing
  
  1992
- Rocky V
  director
  
  directing
  
  1990
- Rocky Special: Burning Youth
  director
  
  directing
  
  1990
- The Karate Kid Part III
  director
  
  directing
  
  1989
- Lean On Me
  director
  
  directing
  
  1989
- For Keeps
  director
  
  directing
  
  1988
- Happy New Year
  director
  
  directing
  
  1987
- The Karate Kid Part II
  director
  
  directing
  
  1986
- The Karate Kid
  director
  
  directing
  
  1984
- A Night in Heaven
  director
  
  directing
  
  1983
- Traveling Hopefully
  director
  
  directing
  
  1982
- Neighbors
  director
  
  directing
  
  1981
- The Formula
  director
  
  directing
  
  1980
- Slow Dancing In The Big City
  director
  
  directing
  
  1978
- Rocky
  director
  
  directing
  
  1976
- W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
  director
  
  directing
  
  1975
- Fore Play
  director
  
  directing
  
  1975
- Save the Tiger
  director
  
  directing
  
  1973
- The Stoolie
  director
  
  directing
  
  1972
- Okay Bill
  director
  
  directing
  
  1971
- Cry Uncle!
  director
  
  directing
  
  1971
- Guess What We Learned in School Today?
  director
  
  directing
  
  1971
- Joe
  director
  
  directing
  
  1970
- Turn On to Love
  director
  
  directing
  
  1969
- Hurry Sundown
  assistant director
  
  directing
  
  1967
- Smiles
  director
  
  directing
  
  1964
actors (17 credits)
- Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- Frank Serpico
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- American Satan
  Talk Show Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- The Real Miyagi
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
  Self - Director
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- Tribute To James Crabe
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Make Your Own Damn Movie!
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- The Way of The Karate Kid
  Self - Director / Academy Award Winner
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2002
- Sports on the Silver Screen
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- The Troma System
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1993
- Greenwich Village Story
  Alvie
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1963
- The Oscars
  
  - The 49th Annual Academy Awards (1977) ... Self actor actors
  
  1953
production (6 credits)
- American Satan
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2017
- Lean On Me
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1989
- Traveling Hopefully
  producer
  
  production
  
  1982
- Slow Dancing In The Big City
  producer
  
  production
  
  1978
- Out of It
  associate producer
  
  production
  
  1969
- Smiles
  producer
  
  production
  
  1964
editing (12 credits)
- The Power of One
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1992
- Rocky V
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1990
- The Karate Kid Part III
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1989
- Lean On Me
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1989
- For Keeps
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1988
- The Karate Kid Part II
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1986
- The Karate Kid
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1984
- A Night in Heaven
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1983
- Slow Dancing In The Big City
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1978
- Okay Bill
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1971
- Cry Uncle!
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1971
- Guess What We Learned in School Today?
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1971
camera (5 credits)
- Slow Dancing In The Big City
  camera operator
  
  camera
  
  1978
- Cry Uncle!
  director of photography
  
  camera
  
  1971
- Guess What We Learned in School Today?
  director of photography
  
  camera
  
  1971
- Joe
  director of photography
  
  camera
  
  1970
- Out of It
  director of photography
  
  camera
  
  1969
writing (2 credits)
- Okay Bill
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1971
- Guess What We Learned in School Today?
  story
  
  writing
  
  1971