Biography
After directing numerous episodes of top shows like "The Twilight Zone" (CBS, 1959-1964), "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (NBC, 1964-68) and "Kojak" (CBS, 1973-78), Donner achieved critical and commercial success with his genre-defining horror movie, "The Omen" (1976), widely considered to be the best of its kind. He followed up with the epic "Superman: The Movie" (1978), which, after a difficult production that resulted in his firing while shooting …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2009 | Executive produced the prequel feature "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" | |
2006 | Directed Bruce Willis and Mos Def in the thriller "16 Blocks" | |
2003 | Helmed the feature adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel "Timeline"; also co-produced | |
2000 | Executive produced feature adaptation of comic book series "X-Men" | |
1999 | Executive produced Oliver Stone's football drama "Any Given Sunday" | |
1998 | Helmed "Lethal Weapon 4" with Gibson and Glover; also produced | |
1997 | Reunited with Gibson for "Conspiracy Theory," co-starring Julia Roberts | |
1994 | Produced and directed movie version of old TV series "Maverick," starring Mel Gibson | |
1990 | Paid the then-record fee of $5 million to take over the direction of "Radio Flyer" (1992) from screenwriter and first-time director David Mickey Evans after ten days of shooting; Donner replaced cast and added more upbeat ending | |
1989 | Served as executive producer and producer on cable series "Tales From the Crypt" (HBO); also directed various episodes | |
1987 | Introduced cop team of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in "Lethal Weapon"; produced and directed | |
1985 | First film as producer (with Lauren Shuler), "Ladyhawke"; also directed | |
1981 | First film as executive producer, "Omen III: The Final Conflict" | |
1978 | Directed "Superman"; replaced on the sequel "Superman II" by Richard Lester | |
1976 | First major feature, "The Omen" was box office hit | |
1975 | TV-movie producing and directing debut, "A Shadow in the Streets" (NBC) | |
1961 | Feature directing debut, "X-15" starring Charles Bronson | |
1961 | Directed numerous episodes of TV series including "Perry Mason" (CBS), "The Fugitive" (ABC), "Get Smart" (CBS, NBC), as well as the pilots for "Kojak" (CBS) and "Bronk" (CBS) | |
1960 | Debut as TV director, episode of "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (CBS) | |
1958 | Moved to Los Angeles, CA; began directing commercials, industrial films and documentaries | |
1950 | Worked with director Martin Ritt on TV production of W Somerset Maugham's "Of Human Bondage" for "The Teller of Tales" | |
| Began career as an actor off-Broadway | ||
| Raised in Mount Vernon, NY | ||