Ted Kotcheff Obituary: Acclaimed Director of \’First Blood,\’ \’North Dallas Forty,\’ and \’Weekend At Bernie\’s,\’ Plus \’Law & Order: SVU\’ Producer, Passes Away at 94

Ted Kotcheff, who helmed over two dozen films including the
Rambo
sequel
First Blood, Fun with Dick and Jane, North Dallas Thirty
and
Weekend at Bernie’s
and executive-produced hundreds of episodes of
Law & Order: SVU
After a six-decade career, he passed away on Thursday. He was 94 years old.

Family members
confirmed
the news to Canada’s
The Globe and Mail.

Kotcheff, born on April 7, 1931, in Toronto, began his work as both a producer and director for television during the 1950s and \’60s. In the 1970s, he shifted focus towards longer projects, which included various made-for-television films. He achieved significant success in feature filmmaking starting in 1974 with two notable releases: the Gregory Peck-Desi Arnaz Jr.-starring Western \”Billy Two Hat\” and
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
featuring Richard Dreyfuss, who was fresh from his collaboration with George Lucas’
American Graffiti.

Kotcheff subsequently achieved major success by directing the notable George Segal-Jane Fonda crime comedy.
Joy with Richard and Jennifer
It turned into one of the highest-grossing films of 1977. Following that, he came out with another film that was largely overlooked and underestimated.
Who Is Murdering the Renowned Chefs of Europe?
Another crime comedy featuring Seagal alongside Jacqueline Bissett and a hugely entertaining and amusing Robert Morley.

The filmmaker received their initial major screenwriting recognition with their subsequent directorial project, which was both tough, humorous, and touching.
North Dallas Forty,
The show featured Nick Nolte and Mac Davis as the older members of an imaginary professional football squad (hint—Dallas Cowboys). This dramedy delved into the personal struggles, relationships, and hardships faced by sports professionals, tackling tough subjects like alcoholism and prescription drug misuse head-on. It earned attention for its unflinching portrayal of these issues and helped establish Kotcheff as a formidable director.

MORE TO COME…