Mark Rydell, Acclaimed Director, Dies at 97
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Mark Rydell, the Oscar-nominated director known for his work with iconic actors such as Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Steve McQueen, and John Wayne, has passed away. He was 97. His daughter, Amy Rydell, shared the news, stating that her father died of natural causes on Thursday at a retirement community in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.
On her Instagram account, Amy expressed her deep affection for her father, saying, “It’s hard to express in words how much I loved my dad. He was truly a unique person. He was the funniest, most talented person I’ve ever known.”
Significant Achievement with “On Golden Pond”
Rydell directed the poignant film “On Golden Pond,” which starred Fonda and Hepburn alongside Jane Fonda. This film garnered 10 Oscar nominations, and both Fonda and Hepburn won for their performances. Adapted from Ernest Thompson’s play, it won Best Original Screenplay, while Rydell received a nomination for Best Director, ultimately losing to Warren Beatty for “Reds.” The film was a commercial success, earning over $119 million and becoming the second-highest grossing film of 1981, following “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
In “On Golden Pond,” Henry Fonda played Norman Thayer, a complicated father figure spending a summer with his wife Ethel (Hepburn) and facing personal challenges. The story mirrored Fonda’s real-life relationship with his daughter, Jane, and he mentioned that working together on this film helped them address some unresolved issues. Tragically, Fonda died at 77 just months after receiving his first Oscar.
Besides “On Golden Pond,” Rydell was nominated for his direction in several other films, including “The Fox” (1967), “The Ravens” (1969) with McQueen, “Cinderella Liberty” (1973) featuring James Caan and Marcia Mason, “The Rose” (1979) with Bette Midler, and “The River” (1984) with Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek.
Born Mortimer Harold Rydell on March 23, 1929, in New York City, he trained with jazz pianist Teddy Wilson at Juilliard. He later served in the Army, creating entertainment for troops in Japan. Rydell graduated from New York University with a focus on English and philosophy.
Transition from Acting to Directing
Initially, Rydell started in acting after securing a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, appearing in soap operas like “The Edge of Night” and “As the World Turns.” He made his Broadway debut in “Seagulls Over Sorrento” alongside Rod Steiger and transitioned to film with “Crime on the Corner” (1956), featuring John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo.
His filmography includes “The Long Goodbye” directed by Robert Altman (1973) and “A Hollywood Ending” directed by Woody Allen (2002). Eventually, Rydell moved into directing for television, helming episodes of notable shows like “Mr. Novak,” “Ben Casey,” and “The Fugitive.” He debuted as a feature film director with “The Fox” in 1967, which was highly successful.
Rydell collaborated with Sidney Pollack, a longtime friend, to establish Sanford Productions in 1971. Their notable works included “Jeremiah Johnson” with Robert Redford and “The Scarecrow,” starring Al Pacino and Gene Hackman, which received the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Some of Rydell’s films like “The Rose” (1979) were major successes, leading to an Oscar nomination for Bette Midler as a rock star inspired by Janis Joplin. Rydell, however, didn’t achieve similar success with “For the Boys” in 1991, although Midler acknowledged his influence on her career in a heartfelt social media tribute.
Legacy in Television and Education
In 1976, Rydell directed the pilot for ABC’s acclaimed drama “Family.” His work in television movies includes titles like “Crime of the Century” (with Isabella Rossellini) and “James Dean,” which garnered a Golden Globe for James Franco. Rydell also made an appearance as Jack Warner in the latter.
Rydell continued his work with “Intersection” (1994) and “Even Money” (2006). In 2009, he, along with actor Martin Landau and screenwriter Lyle Kessler, led a film workshop at UCLA. Rydell believed in the importance of authenticity in art, expressing that “All great art depends on telling the truth.” He is survived by his daughter, Amy, and his son Christopher, along with another son, Alexander, from his second marriage to producer Esther Rydell.
