‘Rocky’ movie director John Avildsen passes away aged 81

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. John Avildsen, the Oscar-winning director of Rocky and The Karate Kid, has died at the age of 81, reports BBC.

Avildsen's son Anthony told US media the filmmaker had died of pancreatic cancer.

Rocky - starring Sylvester Stallone as a rags-to-riches boxer - became the highest grossing film of 1976, despite having a relatively low budget.

It won an Oscar for best picture, as well one for Avildsen as director.

John Avildsen also guided Jack Lemmon to his only best actor Oscar for his role in the 1973 film Save the Tiger.