Richard Donner.Photo: Peter Kramer/GettyRichard Donner — the veteran filmmaker behindThe Goonies,Superman, and all four films in theLethal Weaponfranchise — has died. He was 91.The producer and director, who was born on April 24, 1930 in the Bronx, died on Monday, his production company The Donner’s Company confirmed to PEOPLE. No immediate cause of death was shared.Donner’s career began as an actor, but he soon pivoted towards directing. He helmed a number of commercials and television episodes throughout the ’60s includingWanted: Dead or Alive,The Loretta Young Show,Route 66, The Rifleman, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Gilligan’s Island, Perry Mason,The Wild Wild West,Get Smart,The Fugitive, andThe Twilight Zone(including “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” one of the series' most revered episodes).The Goonies.Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockOn the big screen, Donner directed a few films —like 1961’sX-15, 1968’sSalt and Pepper, and 1971’sLondon Affair— before his big break came around with 1976’s classic horror film,The Omen.That film grossed over $60 million at the box office, making back well-over its $2 million budget.Its success catapulted Donner’s career forward. He directed the original 1978Supermanmovie with Christopher Reeve; Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason in 1982’sThe Toy; and Michelle Pfeiffer in 1985’sLadyhawke.The Goonies, in 1985, was Donner’s first family film foray, something he repeated again in 1992’sRadio Flyer.He also directed 1987’sLethal Weapon, with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, and all three of the franchise’s additional installments.Other credits includeScrooged(1988),Maverick(1994),Assassins(1995),Conspiracy Theory(1997), andTimeline(2003), and most recently, 2006’s16 Blocks.Superman.Silver Screen Collection/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Donner formed The Donner’s Company in 1986 alongside his wife and fellow producer Lauren Schuler. It was first named Donner/Shuler-Donner Productions before making the switch to its current name in 1999.The company had its first major success in 1993, withFree Willy, which spawned multiple sequels and a television series.For several decades, the company had had a joint partnership with Warner Bros. Successes have included theX-Menmovies,Deadpool,Just Married,She’s the Man,The Secret Life of Beesand shows likeLegionandThe Gifted.
Richard Donner.Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty
Richard Donner — the veteran filmmaker behindThe Goonies,Superman, and all four films in theLethal Weaponfranchise — has died. He was 91.The producer and director, who was born on April 24, 1930 in the Bronx, died on Monday, his production company The Donner’s Company confirmed to PEOPLE. No immediate cause of death was shared.Donner’s career began as an actor, but he soon pivoted towards directing. He helmed a number of commercials and television episodes throughout the ’60s includingWanted: Dead or Alive,The Loretta Young Show,Route 66, The Rifleman, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Gilligan’s Island, Perry Mason,The Wild Wild West,Get Smart,The Fugitive, andThe Twilight Zone(including “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” one of the series' most revered episodes).The Goonies.Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockOn the big screen, Donner directed a few films —like 1961’sX-15, 1968’sSalt and Pepper, and 1971’sLondon Affair— before his big break came around with 1976’s classic horror film,The Omen.That film grossed over $60 million at the box office, making back well-over its $2 million budget.Its success catapulted Donner’s career forward. He directed the original 1978Supermanmovie with Christopher Reeve; Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason in 1982’sThe Toy; and Michelle Pfeiffer in 1985’sLadyhawke.The Goonies, in 1985, was Donner’s first family film foray, something he repeated again in 1992’sRadio Flyer.He also directed 1987’sLethal Weapon, with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, and all three of the franchise’s additional installments.Other credits includeScrooged(1988),Maverick(1994),Assassins(1995),Conspiracy Theory(1997), andTimeline(2003), and most recently, 2006’s16 Blocks.Superman.Silver Screen Collection/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Donner formed The Donner’s Company in 1986 alongside his wife and fellow producer Lauren Schuler. It was first named Donner/Shuler-Donner Productions before making the switch to its current name in 1999.The company had its first major success in 1993, withFree Willy, which spawned multiple sequels and a television series.For several decades, the company had had a joint partnership with Warner Bros. Successes have included theX-Menmovies,Deadpool,Just Married,She’s the Man,The Secret Life of Beesand shows likeLegionandThe Gifted.
Richard Donner — the veteran filmmaker behindThe Goonies,Superman, and all four films in theLethal Weaponfranchise — has died. He was 91.
The producer and director, who was born on April 24, 1930 in the Bronx, died on Monday, his production company The Donner’s Company confirmed to PEOPLE. No immediate cause of death was shared.
Donner’s career began as an actor, but he soon pivoted towards directing. He helmed a number of commercials and television episodes throughout the ’60s includingWanted: Dead or Alive,The Loretta Young Show,Route 66, The Rifleman, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Gilligan’s Island, Perry Mason,The Wild Wild West,Get Smart,The Fugitive, andThe Twilight Zone(including “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” one of the series' most revered episodes).
The Goonies.Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
On the big screen, Donner directed a few films —like 1961’sX-15, 1968’sSalt and Pepper, and 1971’sLondon Affair— before his big break came around with 1976’s classic horror film,The Omen.
That film grossed over $60 million at the box office, making back well-over its $2 million budget.
Its success catapulted Donner’s career forward. He directed the original 1978Supermanmovie with Christopher Reeve; Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason in 1982’sThe Toy; and Michelle Pfeiffer in 1985’sLadyhawke.
The Goonies, in 1985, was Donner’s first family film foray, something he repeated again in 1992’sRadio Flyer.
He also directed 1987’sLethal Weapon, with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, and all three of the franchise’s additional installments.
Other credits includeScrooged(1988),Maverick(1994),Assassins(1995),Conspiracy Theory(1997), andTimeline(2003), and most recently, 2006’s16 Blocks.
Superman.Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Donner formed The Donner’s Company in 1986 alongside his wife and fellow producer Lauren Schuler. It was first named Donner/Shuler-Donner Productions before making the switch to its current name in 1999.
The company had its first major success in 1993, withFree Willy, which spawned multiple sequels and a television series.
For several decades, the company had had a joint partnership with Warner Bros. Successes have included theX-Menmovies,Deadpool,Just Married,She’s the Man,The Secret Life of Beesand shows likeLegionandThe Gifted.
source: people.com
