Richard Donner Biography, Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Girlfriend, Family, Fact, and More

Richard Donner (April 24, 1930 – July 5, 2021) was an American director whose works included some of the most commercially successful films during the New Hollywood era. Donner was “one of Hollywood’s most dependable builders of action blockbusters,” according to cinema historian Michael Barson. His career extended more than 50 years, spanning several genres and cinematic styles.

Richard Donner Biography and Net Worth

Richard Donner Early Life

Richard Donner was born Richard Donald Schwartzberg on April 24, 1930 in New York City’s Bronx borough. His parents were Russian Jews called Fred and Hattie, and he had a sister named Joan. Donner joined the United States Navy as an aerial photographer after graduating from high school. He later enrolled at New York University but dropped out to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles.

Richard Donner Career

Donner, who wanted to be an actor, earned a tiny part in a television programme produced by Martin Ritt; nevertheless, Ritt urged him to pursue directing instead, and recruited him as his assistant. Donner directed his first television episodes in the early 1960s for the Steve McQueen Western series “Wanted Dead or Alive.”

In 1961, Donner made his directorial debut with the aviation drama “X-15,” starring Mary Tyler Moore, David McLean, and Charles Bronson. His second movie, released in 1968, was the comedy “Salt and Pepper,” featuring Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford.

Film Breakthroughs

            Donner had his debut in 1976 with the supernatural horror thriller “The Omen,” which starred Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, and David Warner and was one of the year’s highest-grossing films. Donner had an even larger smash two years later with “Superman,” starring Christopher Reeve as the eponymous Man of Steel. The picture became a global phenomenon and was the second highest-grossing film of its year.

• Further Film Career

            After the tremendous success of “Superman,” Donner directed the 1980 dud “Inside Moves.” He had another misfire two years later with the comedy “The Toy,” starring Richard Pryor, Ned Beatty, Jackie Gleason, and Scott Schwartz. Donner’s next big hit was the buddy cop action thriller “Lethal Weapon,” starring Danny Glover and Mel Gibson as mismatched LAPD detectives. Three sequels, directed by Donner, were produced in 1989, 1992, and 1998.

Richard Donner Personal Life

Donner married film producer Lauren Shuler in 1985, and the couple remained together until Donner’s death. Donner died in July 2021 at the age of 91 at his residence in West Hollywood.

Richard Donner Net Worth

At the time of his death, he had a net worth of $200 million as an American filmmaker and producer. That was his joint net worth with his wife, Lauren Shuler Donner, whom he had married in 1986. Richard died at the age of 91 on July 5, 2021. Richard Donner directed some of the most commercially successful films of the New Hollywood era, including “The Omen” and “Superman,” and in the 1980s, he directed such hits as “The Goonies,” “Scrooged,” and “Lethal Weapon.” He also co-owned a production company with his wife, which produced films such as “Free Willy” and “X-Men.”