Bob Rafelson of The Postman Rings Twice is dead

American director Bob Rafaelsonfilm director like My life is my life and the classic The postman knock twiceand the video clip of all night longof Lionel Ritchie, died Saturday at the age of 89 at his Aspen, Colorado home, a former aide said in a statement.

Jolene Wolff, who worked with Rafelson for 38 years at his production company, told media that the director “He died in peace and surrounded by his family”.

Although its beginnings date back to the 1960s, the feature film My life is my life (Five easy pieces, 1970) catapulted him as a prominent name among the prestigious creators of his generation. Starring Jack Nicholson as Bobby Dupea, the film was a character-based road movie that reflected Rafelson’s vision of a stranger in deep, undisclosed grief.

Nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, the film also announced Nicholson’s arrival as a major star, earning his first Best Actor nomination. Rafelson would also work with Nicholson as a writer or director on films such as The postman rings twicein 1981, and blood and winein 1996.

Between the latter two, unusual for him, he directed the music video for the song all night longby Lionel Richie.

From the start, Rafelson’s first three films marked a new depth in American cinema through dysfunctional families, frustrated ambitions and alienation.

Previously, between 1966 and 1968, he was head of the directing team of the popular NBC series, monkeys, around a fictional rock group that was inspired by the worldwide phenomenon of the Beatles. This series earned Rafelson an Emmy for the comedy series in 1967.

On the occasion of his death, the singer and drummer of the Monkees, Micky Dolenz, the last surviving member of that musical group, declared what Rafelson meant in his life: “One day, in the spring of 1966, I left my architecture classes auditioning for a new TV show called The monkeys. The co-creator / producer of the show was Bob Rafelson. “

“In the beginning,” he continued, “I mistook him for another actor there for the audition. Needless to say, I got the part and it completely changed my life. Sadly, Bob passed away last night, but I was able to send him a message telling him how eternally grateful I was for seeing something in me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my friend … “he added.

Later, among a vast filmography, the psychological thriller would come Black Widow (1987), with Debra Winger and Theresa Russell, The lunar mountains (1990) and Poodle springsfor HBO, which was an adaptation of a crime thriller Raymond Chandler.

Despite the success behind the scenes, it wasn’t an easy life for Rafelson. She married Toby Carr, who worked on the production design for many of her films. They had two children, but sadly 11-year-old Julie died from a gas explosion.

Toby had cancer from which he recovered and the couple divorced. With Gabrielle Taurek, Rafelson’s second wife, he had two more. It is reported that the well-known director died of lung cancer.

POS