‘First Blood’ Director
Ted Kotcheff
Dead at 94
Published
Ted Kotcheff — famous for directing iconic movies the likes of “First Blood” and “Weekend at Bernie’s” — has died, TMZ confirmed.
Thomas Kotcheff, Ted’s son, tells TMZ … the filmmaker died peacefully Friday night at Hospital Joya in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico surrounded by family.
A cause of death was not disclosed.
Kotcheff’s enormous resume of both films and TV projects spans decades … but he is arguably best known for “First Blood,” the 1982 Sly Stallone classic that introduced audiences to John Rambo.
Of course … Kotcheff knew a thing or two about great comedy … which was evident when he directed the ’80s screwball classic, “Weekend at Bernie’s,” starring Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman.
Other notable movies Ted directed over a long career in Hollywood … the original “Fun With Dick and Jane” in 1977 with Jane Fonda and George Segal, “Uncommon Valor” with Gene Hackman, and the classic pro football comedy “North Dallas Forty” … just to name a few.
He was nominated for a slew of awards throughout his career — in Canada and the U.S. — and won a few.
He was 94.
RIP
