Richard Donner, Director of Superman, Lethal Weapon, and The Goonies, Dies at 91
Richard Donner, the director of such films as the original Superman film starring Christopher Reeve, Lethal Weapon, and The Goonies, has died at the age of 91.
As reported by Variety, Donner’s production company confirmed the news of his death on Monday, July 5, although no cause was been disclosed.
His first directing credit on IMDB is listed as the episode of Zane Grey Theatre called “So Young the Savage Land.” One of his breakout hits was 1976’s The Omen, and that was followed up two years later with Superman.
He left Superman II after a litigious dispute with the film’s producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind. Richard Lester took over directing duties, but Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut was released in 2006, the same day as Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns debuted on home video.
He would continue on to direct Lethal Weapon 1-4, and his final directing credit was 2006’s 16 Blocks starring Bruce Willis.
Donner did much more than just direct, as he started a production company with his wife Lauren Shuler Donner that would produce X-Men movies like 2000’s X-Men and the prequel X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
