Mourning for “Superman” director Donner: “I am the audience for my films”

He actually wanted to be an actor, but then Richard Donner switched behind the camera and shot blockbusters like “Superman” and “Lethal Weapon”. Now the cult director has died at the age of 91.

If he had done his dream job – there would never have been films like “Superman”. Richard Donner stood on the stage. He wanted to be an actor. Hollywood veteran Martin Ritt gave him the decisive impetus, Donner said on stage: “I would have become an actor if it hadn’t been for a great director named Martin Ritt.”

Donner had a small part in his live show. Ritt was not satisfied. They argued. At the end of the evening Ritt suggested: “You should become a director.”

ride made Donner his assistant director and paved the way for one of Hollywood’s most successful action film directors. Donner began with episodes of hit series such as “The Twilight Zone”, “Cannon”, “Kojak” and “The Streets of San Francisco”.

Even his first work was a hit

Donner was born in the Bronx in 1930 and grew up in New York. After college, he went to the military. And then he started: His first work made him famous in 1976: the horror classic “The Omen”.

Two years later, the first “Superman” film was released. The film with actor Christopher Reeve in the lead role turned out to be a blockbuster. Other productions also became cult: “Lethal Weapon” or the children’s adventure film “The Goonies” – produced by Steven Spielberg. Richard Donner said about his job:

You get involved in something that works for you personally. A lot of people say: You have to think about the audience. I am the audience. I am the audience for my films.

This is how the director described his way of working. Which had an advantage: “If I screwed something up, then I screwed it up really – for myself,” Donner said.

Donner didn’t screw it up – from “The Ghosts I Called” with Bill Murray to his last 2006 film, “16 Blocks.” Donner also produced a number of successful films with his wife, including “Free Willy”.

“He laughs like no other has ever laughed”

“Goonies” star Sean Astin wrote on Twitter: “Richard Donner had the biggest, booming voice you can imagine. He laughed like no one has laughed before.”

Director Steven Spielberg also mourns Donner in a statement. He wrote on Twitter: “Being in his circle was like hanging out with your favorite coach, the brightest professor, the keenest motivator, the most lovable friend, the most loyal ally.”