John G. Avildsen

John Guilbert Avildsen (December 21, 1935 – June 16, 2017) was an American movie director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1977 for "Rocky".
Other movie he directed include "Joe", "Save the Tiger", "Fore Play", "The Formula", "Neighbors", "For Keeps", "Lean on Me", "The Power of One", "8 Seconds", "Inferno", "Rocky V" and the first three "Karate Kid" movies.
Avildsen died on June 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California of pancreatic cancer, aged 81.