Today in Boxing History: John G. Alvidsen born in Illinois
On this day in 1935, film director John G. Alvidsen was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He would go on to win an Academy Award for directing “Rocky.�
Alvidsen made his directorial debut in 1969 with “Turn on to Love.� In the mid-1970s, he was commissioned to direct “Rocky.� The film, of course, became a blockbuster and earned three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and a Best Director nod for Alvidsen.
Sylvester Stallone directed the majority of the sequels. However, Alvidsen was brought back to direct “Rocky V.� While he is best known for “Rocky,� Alvidsen directed the first three “Karate Kid� movies, “Lean on Me,� “8 Seconds,� “Save the Tiger,� and “The Formula.�