Original ‘Superman’ Director Richard Donner Dies at 91

Legendary director and producer Richard Donner passed away at the age of 91 on Monday, July 5, 2021. The news was officially dispersed via American news media.

The Hollywood Reporter stated that Donner’s assistant confirmed the news to them, with Deadline adding that neither the company nor his wife Lauren Schuler Donner have revealed the cause of death.

Donner was a veteran on the small screen, with many of the 60s TV hits under his belt – Route 66, The Rifleman, The Twilight Zone, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Gilligan’s Island, Perry Mason and The Wild Wild West. He made his transition to the big screen with his first feature X-15 starring Charles Bronson and Mary Tyler Moore.

But perhaps a household name that you would recognise more easily is that of Superman. With a budget of $55 million, Donner directed the first, original Superman in 1978, wherein Christopher Reeve took on the iconic role.

This pivotal film would evolve into the superhero mania we know of today.

Donner was known for his warm, booming demeanor, which was also reflected in his voice. Donner-directed The Goonies star Sean Astin certainly remembers him so:

A little short of 20 movie titles directed before the end of the century, Donner and wife Lauren went on collectively to start producing films under The Donners’ Company. This would see the making of the X-men franchise in 2000.

Other titles to his name are the Lethal Weapon series, Scrooged, Maverick and the Free Willy series (where he acted as producer).

Fellow Goonies story writer and director Steven Spielberg expressed his sympathies via a tweet by Amblin, his film and television production company. He refers to Donner as a coach, professor, motivator and most of all, a friend.

Believing in the story was just what Donner was known for – and this, made him a prolific director and producer across a variety of genres, creating his own brand of spectacular that we will always remember him for.