Richard Donner, Director of 'Superman,' 'The Goonies' and 'Lethal Weapon,' Dies at 91

[peppertree]

Source: Variety

Director-producer Richard Donner, best known for helming the “Lethal Weapon” film series, “The Goonies” and the original “Superman” film, died on Monday. He was 91.

Donner’s production company confirmed news of his death to Variety, though the cause was not disclosed.

Though not his first bigscreen effort, his big feature break came with 1976’s “The Omen,” starring Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. Thereafter, he brought his craftsmanship to the first “Superman.”

He also branched out into producing (“Free Willy,” “The Lost Boys”), usually with his wife Lauren Shuler Donner — he executive produced the huge 2000 success “X-Men” and later the prequel “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”

But his career was highlighted by the “Lethal Weapon” series, starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, which elevated him to the ranks of directors generating more than a billion dollars in box office.

Read more: https://variety.com/2021/film/news/richard-donner-dead-dies-superman-the-goonies-lethal-weapon-1235012025/

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Legendary director Richard Donner, 1930-2021.

[LanternWaste]

1. He also directed the serial Danger Island from the children's program The Banana Splits

One of those weird little memory nuggets of my early childhood.

[rpannier]

2. I watched the Banana Splits every weekend

I remember the "Uh Oh...Chongo! It's Danger Island next"
I also remember the theme song for the Banana Splits (after 50+ years)
And the Fleegle laugh
Drooper was my favorite
I thought it was interesting that the organization of the show was partly based on Laugh In

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

3. 👍🏼👍🏼

[BumRushDaShow]

4. One banana two banana three banana four

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I know the OP article focused on the "Lethal Weapon" franchise

but it is a shame it essentially dismisses all the other stuff done previously that really made their marks among their various genres, including all his TV work, and the X-men series, but notably "The Omen" series, that had to differentiate itself from the previous blockbuster "The Exorcist" (and its sequel).

As a note about his TV stuff - this is one of them -

R.I.P. to a multi-talented director/producer who could tap into the popular themes of the times.

[Omaha Steve]

6. The Goonies is very special

[turbinetree]

7. And he was involved in a movie X-15 with Charles Bronson, Mary Tyler Moore in 1961