Richard Donner, director of Superman and Lethal Weapons, dies at age 91

Richard Donner, the legendary director and producer responsible for iconic projects such as the first modern superhero film Superman, as well as The Goonies and Lethal Weapon , has died at the age of 91.

Richard Donner, director of Superman and Lethal Weapons, dies at age 91

The news of Donner’s passing was announced by his wife: producer Lauren Schuler Donner, as well as his business manager. Donner passed away on Monday and the cause of death is currently unknown.

Donner was born Richard Donald Schwartzberg on April 24, 1930 in the Bronx, New York.

After initially hoping to get his start in the industry as an actor, Donner was motivated to enter the directing world and began directing commercials and Western television shows in the late 1950s.

Donner’s big project was 1976’s The Omen, the cult classic supernatural horror film. Just two years later, Donner directed Superman: The Movie, the project starring Christopher Reeve that is considered to lay the groundwork for modern superhero films.

Donner was also involved in the main production of Superman II, before being fired from the project and replaced by Richard Lester after creative differences with the film’s producers.

He also founded Donners’ production company with Lauren and was an executive producer on such films as Any Given Sunday, 2000’s X-Men and 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Richard Donner, the legendary director and producer responsible for iconic projects such as the first modern superhero film Superman, as well as The Goonies and Lethal Weapon , has died at the age of 91.