Trivia

Directed seven actors to Oscar nominations: Jack Lemmon, Jack Gilford, Burgess Meredith, Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Pat Morita and Burt Young. Lemmon won Best Actor prizes for Save the Tiger (1973).

Was going to direct Serpico (1973), but was replaced just before filming due to differences with the producer.

Declined to direct Rocky II (1979).

Died a month and a half before the release of John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs (2017), a documentary about his life, career and films, directed by Derek Wayne Johnson.

He was the original director of Saturday Night Fever (1977) but pulled out. He was replaced by John Badham.

His son Ashley Avildsen is the creator and owner of the metal label Sumerian Records. He has no relationship with his son nor has he ever attempted to make contact.

Father of actors Jonathan Avildsen and Anthony G. Avildsen, both of whom have appeared in several of his movies and also worked for him as production assistants.

Despite a popular misconception, Avildsen was *never* approached to direct "The Next Karate Kid" (which came out the same year as his movie "8 Seconds").

Has a daughter named Bridget Avildsen (b. 2 October 1993) with his ex-wife, Tracy Brooks Swope.

As of 2003 was living in Beverly Hills, CA.

He has directed one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Rocky (1976).

Remained close to famed New York City cop Frank Serpico, the subject of the 1973 film Serpico which Avildsen was fired from. The two even shared a Long Island beach house for three years in the 1980s.

Ex-son-in-law of Herbert B. Swope Jr. and Margaret Hayes.