Latest news with #WakeInFright
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Obituary: Ted Kotcheff, film-maker
Director Ted Kotcheff attends the Wake In Fright premiere at Film Forum on October 5, 2012 in New York City. Canadian film-maker Ted Kotcheff steered a diverse range of box office hits, such as Fun With Dick And Jane, Weekend At Bernie's and First Blood, the debut of Sylvester Stallone as traumatised Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. Kotcheff's career was equally as eclectic. Having started in Canadian TV, Kotcheff made his name overseas, directing TV series in Britain and ground-breaking Australian feature Wake In Fright. He returned to Canada to direct The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974), which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Three years later, he started his US career with the George Segal and Jane Fonda vehicle Fun With Dick And Jane, which grossed $3 million in ticket sales. His most enduring hit, First Blood, was released in 1982. Although more cerebral than it was given credit for, its action sequences cemented Stallone's leading man credentials. Kotcheff's last big hit was the decidedly uncerebral slapstick comedy Weekend At Bernie's. Kotcheff switched back to television and most notably was a producer and director on Law & Order: SVU for 13 years. Ted Kotcheff died on April 10 aged 94. — APL/agencies
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chris Meloni Saddened by Death of 'Law & Order: SVU' Legend
Christopher Meloni, the legendary "Law & Order: SVU" star, is saddened by the passing of a show icon. Ted Kotcheff, a Canadian-Bulgarian filmmaker who worked on the hit NBC show for more than 10 years, passed away earlier this month. He was 94 years old. While he ended up being known for his work in movies, he started off on "SVU" as a co-executive producer. He quickly earned a promotion to executive producer at the start of Season 2. Kotcheff ended up working on the show for its first 13 seasons. "Law & Order: SVU" continues to be one of the longest running and most successful shows in TV history. Meloni, who played one of the lead detectives on the show, is saddened by Kotcheff's death. Meloni took to Instagram to pay tribute. 'Ted Kotcheff was producing director on SVU during my time there,' Meloni wrote on his Instagram Story on Saturday. 'I called him the Blustery Bulgarian. I loved that man. He was a master director- check his bio- and great company. To me his masterpiece was Wake In Fright.' The longtime director directed several notable movies, including "First Blood," "Weekend at Bernie's," and "Fun with Dick and Jane." As Meloni mentioned, he also directed the 1971 thriller "Wake in Fright," starring Gary Bond and Donald Pleasence. Legendary director Martin Scorsese was a big fan of that movie, too. 'It left me speeches,' Scorsese once said of of the movie. Longtime "SVU" boss Dick Wolf paid tribute to the prominent director following his passing, too. 'Ted was an integral part of the SVU family for over 13 years,' Wolf told Deadline on Friday. 'He was not only a great producer and director, he was also a close friend. I will miss him.'
