American director and actor Mark Rydell, known for films such as “The Rose”, “For the Boys” and “On Golden Pond”, he died at the age of 97. His death was announced on Friday by actress Bette Midler on social media.
“Mark Rydell, the director of my first film, The Rose, died this morning,” wrote Bette Midler.
The actress recalled the collaboration with the filmmaker and said that he “he cast a spell on the actors”, managing to convey to them in just a few words what he needed from them. Midler was nominated twice for Academy Awards for her work in projects directed by Rydell.
Born March 23, 1929, in New York, Mark Rydell studied music at the Juilliard School, then trained as an actor at the Neighborhood Playhouse and Actors Studio. Before becoming famous, he played on Broadway and worked as a jazz pianist, notes Agerpres.
His career began to develop with appearances in television and cinema. Rydell also became known for his role as Jeff Baker in the series “As the World Turns”.
A career spanning over six decades
Mark Rydell has had dozens of roles as an actor and directed nearly 20 productions. He started his directing career in television, where he worked on series such as The Virginian, The Reporter and “Mr. Novak.”
His film debut as a director came with the film “The Fox”, followed by productions such as westerns “The Reivers” and “The Cowboys”.
Among Rydell’s most notable films is On Golden Pond, released in 1981. The drama follows the story of an elderly couple, Norman and Ethel, who spend the summer at their lakeside cottage. The film was a critical success and earned Rydell an Academy Award nomination for directing.
Another important title from his filmography was “The Rose”, the film that marked Bette Midler’s film debut and for which the actress received an Oscar nomination.
Mark Rydell remains one of the leading figures in American cinema, with a career that spanned theater, television, acting and directing.
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