Movies

Ted Kotcheff, ‘First Blood’ and ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ director, dies at 94

BBG News

Veteran Canadian filmmaker Ted Kotcheff, known for directing movies like “First Blood,” “Weekend at Bernie’s,” “Wake in Fright,” “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz,” “Fun With Dick and Jane,” and “North Dallas Forty,” along with a notable tenure as an executive producer on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” has passed away at the age of 94.

According to an email from Kate Kotcheff, his daughter, Kotcheff passed away tranquilly on Thursday evening at a hospital in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico, surrounded by sedation.

Back in 1975, Kotcheff shared with The Times that he’s been drawn to the feeling of being separated from societal norms. His films often focus on individuals who are estranged from their communities or are unsure about their motivations.

1931 saw the birth of Ted Kotcheff in Toronto to Bulgarian immigrant parents. He ventured into television work in the 1950s’ infancy. Subsequently, he shifted base to the U.K., where he directed for both stage and screen productions. In 1971, he helmed “Wake in Fright” in Australia, a film that was later hailed by The Times upon its 2012 re-release as “raw, disturbing, and captivating.

In the early ’70s, Kotcheff returned to Canada where he directed the 1974 film adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz.” The movie starred Richard Dreyfuss and was a significant success, winning the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival. Moreover, Lionel Chetwynd’s adapted screenplay for the film earned an Academy Award nomination.

In 1982, Kotcheff achieved significant fame in Hollywood with the release of “First Blood,” a movie that brought the character of John Rambo, portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, to prominence. This traumatized Vietnam veteran was deeply troubled.

In her review of “First Blood,” Sheila Benson from The Times stated that this intense and unsettling movie is remarkably well crafted. She further noted that if it’s possible to simultaneously dislike and appreciate a film, then “First Blood” would excel on that front. She also mentioned that after watching the film, many images of jubilant nihilism have been etched into our minds by director Kotcheff, making any praise seem insincere. It’s not the words but the action in this movie that makes it compelling, and the action is truly chilling.

1989’s “Weekend at Bernie’s” showcased director Kotcheff’s adaptability by embodying the lighthearted, unrestrained spirit of the era, and it left a surprising cultural imprint.

The movie chronicles the exploits of two energetic, enterprising characters (portrayed by Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman) who spend a chaotic weekend concocting intricate deceptions, all with the aim of demonstrating that their doubtful superior (Terry Kiser) is very much alive. In his critique for “Bernie’s,” critic Kevin Thomas from The Times expressed appreciation for the film as it offers a perfect setting for an acid social satirist like Kotcheff, and he even pointed out the director’s brief appearance in the movie as the father of one of the young men.

Later on, Kotcheff found himself back on TV, dedicating over a decade and contributing to approximately 300 episodes of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

In 2011, Director Kotcheff was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Canadian Directors Guild. His memoir, “Director’s Cut: A Lifetime in Film,” was published in 2017.

Kotcheff leaves behind his spouse, Laifun Chung, as well as their children Kate and Thomas. Regrettably, he was preceded in death by his initial wife, the actress Sylvia Kay, who was the mother of their three shared children.

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2025-04-12 03:31

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