Academy Award-winning director John G. Avildsen dies aged 81

June 18, 2017 On Friday, US director, best known for directing the 1976 film ' for which he won an for the  and the 1980s ' trilogy, died at the age of 81. His son, Anthony, told the Los Angeles Times that Avildsen died due to at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Actors, , , , ; CEO  and  President  paid tribute to Avildsen.

Raised in, Illinois, Avildsen began his cinematography career with advertising agencies. He later served as an assistant director for filmmakers like and.

Avildsen directed his first film , which was released in 1969. A year later, he directed ' and in 1973, he directed ' starring. Lemmon won the for his role in the 1973 movie.

Avildsen directed  in 1976, starring Stallone, which won three Academy Awards, including the and the Best Director. Fourteen years later he directed . He directed the first three films of , all starring Macchio and in the 1980s.

Avildsen also directed ' in 1975, in 1981, 1989 film ', and the 1994 film . 1999's  was his last movie.

Avildsen's accomplishments were documented in this year's documentary film John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs, which premiered at the.