Beloved Hollywood producer and director, Richard Donner has died at the age of 91. No cause of death was shared with the media.
Known for the "Lethal Weapon" franchise and "The Goonies," Donner and his wife, producer Lauren Shuler Donner, together ran The Donners' Company, where they launched films including "Free Willy," "X-Men" and "Deadpool."
Donner also originally directed Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980) back-to-back; although he was replaced by Richard Lester before the second film as finished.
In his early directing years, he worked on over twenty-five television series, including Have Gun – Will Travel, The Fugitive, Combat!, Get Smart, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Wild Wild West, Gilligan's Island, Kojak, Tales from the Crypt, and The Twilight Zone.
Donner's first feature film was X-15 (1961), which starred Charles Bronson and Mary Tyler Moore. Seven years passed before he directed his next, Salt and Pepper (1968), with Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Lawford. His breakthrough film was The Omen (1976).
In 2000, he received the President's Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films.
Steven Spielberg Tweeted: "Dick had such a powerful command of his movies and was so gifted across so many genres," Spielberg said. "Being in his circle was akin to hanging out with your favorite coach, smartest professor, fiercest motivator, most endearing friend, staunchest ally, and — of course — the greatest Goonie of all. He was all kid. All heart. All the time. I can't believe he's gone, but his husky, hearty laugh will stay with me always."
