Renowned Canadian filmmaker Ted Kotcheff, best known for directing the iconic action film First Blood and the cult comedy Weekend at Bernie’s, has died at the age of 94. Kotcheff passed away Thursday in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, while under sedation, according to his daughter Kate Kotcheff.
Born in Toronto, Kotcheff’s career spanned nearly six decades, showcasing his versatility across genres. He gained critical acclaim for directing the 1974 adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and brought the world its first glimpse of John Rambo in 1982’s First Blood, a role that became a defining moment for Sylvester Stallone.
Kotcheff also played a pivotal role in global cinema with the 1971 Australian New Wave thriller Wake in Fright, and he further demonstrated his storytelling range with the 1979 sports drama North Dallas Forty.
In his later years, Kotcheff served as executive producer on hundreds of episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, leaving a lasting legacy on television as well.
Source: Swifteradio.com.
