Tributes also poured in on Twitter Monday, including from “Goonies” star Sean Astin.
“Richard Donner had the biggest, boomiest voice you could imagine,” Astin wrote. “He commanded attention and he laughed like no man has ever laughed before. Dick was so much fun. What I perceived in him, as a 12 year old kid, is that he cared. I love how much he cared.”
Director Kevin Smith tweeted that, “Richard Donner made the devil a child in The Omen, invented the modern day comic book movie with Superman, and reinvented the buddy cop movie with Lethal Weapon. I got to meet with him last year about a project. Guy was a natural born storyteller. Thanks for all the flicks, Dick!”
Lauren Shuler Donner, his wife and producing partner, told the Hollywood trade Deadline that Donner died Monday.
Donner gained fame with his first feature, 1976âs âThe Omen.â A then-unheard-of offer followed: $1 million to direct 1978âs âSuperman.â Donner channeled his love of the character into making the film, repeatedly facing off with producers over the need for special effects that would convince the audience that a superhero could really fly. In the title role, Donner cast Christopher Reeve, who was associated with âSupermanâ for the rest of his life.
By the 21st century, the genre was dominating the box office in the U.S. and thriving overseas. The heads of Marvel Studios and DC Entertainmentâproducers of most of todayâs superhero fareâ both worked for Donner when they were starting out in Hollywood.
Superman, Lethal Weapon, Goonies director Richard Donner dies at 91 Toggle share menu
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Superman, Lethal Weapon, Goonies director Richard Donner dies at 91 He and his wife also founded The Donners Company in 1993, which has produced such hits as Deadpool, The Wolverine and the X-Men franchise.
In this file photo taken on June 07, 2017, director/producer Richard Donner attends An Academy Tribute To Filmmaker Richard Donner at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in Beverly Hills, California. VALERIE MACON / AFP
06 Jul 2021 07:41AM Share this content
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Filmmaker Richard Donner, who helped create the modern superhero blockbuster with 1978’s Superman and mastered the buddy comedy with the Lethal Weapon franchise, has died. He was 91.
Marvel s Kevin Feige Reacts to the Death of Richard Donner
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Earlier today, the film and comics industries were saddened by the loss of Richard Donner. The filmmaker behind hits like
Superman: The Movie and the
Lethal Weapon movies passed away today, according to statements from his wife,
X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner. The filmmaker, who also directed
Scrooged and
The Goonies, remained a significant part of the superhero-movie discourse for years after he was done with his
Superman films. On the DVD box set for Christopher Nolan s Dark Knight Trilogy, a conversation between Donner and Nolan is included as a bonus feature. A tribute to Donner mounted a few years ago featured appearances by then-Warner Bros. and DC executive Geoff Johns as well as Marvel honcho Kevin Feige.
Goonies, Superman filmmaker Richard Donner dead at 91
UPI News Service, 07/05/2021
Richard Donner who directed classic films such as The Omen, Superman, The Goonies, Ladyhawke and Lethal Weapon has died at the age of 91.
ADVERTISEMENT His wife, producer Lauren Shuler Donner, confirmed the New York native s death to Deadline Monday, while his production company broke the sad news to Variety.
The cause has not been disclosed.
Donner s other movie credits include Superman II, Inside Moves, The Toy, Scrooged, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3, Lethal Weapon 4, Maverick, Conspiracy Theory, Assassins, Timeline and 16 Blocks. He was also an executive producer on The Lost Boys, and the Free Willy and X-Men franchises.