Beloved comedy and action movie director dies

April 14, 20252 Mins Read

Ted Kotcheff, a Hollywood movie director known for hits like “First Blood” and “Weekend at Bernie’s” has died at the age of 94.

Kotcheff died Thursday of heart failure in Mexico, where he lived. His daughter Kate Kotcheff confirmed the news to The Canadian Press on Friday.

“He was an amazing storyteller. He was an incredible, larger than life character and he was so knowledgeable about so many different things,” Kate told The Canadian Press.

The Canadian-born filmmaker directed dozens of films across multiple genres over a career that spanned more than 60 years. Kotcheff introduced the world to Sylvester Stallone’s iconic character John Rambo in the hit action movie “First Blood” in 1982.

Some of Kotcheff’s other notable works include the “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz,” (1974), “Fun with Dick and Jane” (1977) and “Weekend at Bernie’s” (1989).

The filmmaker kicked his career off directing an episode of ‘50s television series “On Camera.”

Kotcheff also produced episodes of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and made acting appearances in films like “Shattered Glass” and “Weekend at Bernies”— where he played the role of Jack Parker, Richard Parker’s dad.