Mark Rydell, a director whose films accumulated more than 20 Academy Award nominations, passed away at 97. He was known for helming character-driven dramas that explored themes of mortality and family relationships.
Rydell’s breakthrough came with On Golden Pond in 1981, which earned him a best director nomination. The film marked the first and only on-screen collaboration between Henry Fonda and his daughter Jane Fonda. Katharine Hepburn won the best actress Oscar for her role, while Fonda earned the best actor award. Rydell continued to work with major stars throughout his career, directing Bette Midler in The Rose and For the Boys, films that garnered Midler her only best actress Oscar nominations. He also helmed the television movie James Dean in 2001, featuring James Franco in the title role, and appeared himself as studio executive Jack Warner.
Before establishing himself as a director, Rydell was a trained performer who studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse and Juilliard School of Music under jazz pianist Teddy Wilson. He appeared alongside James Dean and Steve McQueen during his acting career and later served as west coast artistic co-director of the Actors Studio. He believed strongly that filmmakers should maintain acting experience, stating that directors needed to stay connected with performer challenges. His own acting roles included appearances in Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye, Woody Allen’s Hollywood Ending, and Sydney Pollack’s Havana.
Rydell’s directorial output spanned multiple decades and genres. His films included literary adaptations such as The Fox and The Reivers, as well as period pieces like Harry and Walter Go to New York. Later works featured The River, which provided Mel Gibson his first major U.S. role, and television productions including Crime of the Century. His final film, Even Money, released in 2006, starred Kim Basinger and Forest Whitaker as gambling addicts.
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