Posted on 04/24/2005 2:36:21 PM PDT by Borges
Director of 'Rambo' and 'Tombstone' was recently diagnosed with lung cancer
VICTORIA, British Columbia -- Director George P. Cosmatos, best known for box-office hits "Rambo" and "Tombstone," has died. He was 64.
Cosmatos, who had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, died earlier this week, his friend and fellow director Richard Donner said Saturday.
"George was just a wonderful, bigger-than-life character," said Donner. "You never forgot his entrance and hoped there would never be an exit."
Known for an ability to fix troubled projects and create blockbuster films, he delivered what many consider his finest achievement in 1993, "Tombstone," the film about legendary American lawman Wyatt Earp starring Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell.
It was a rough ride for Cosmatos, who was brought in by executive producer Andrew G. Vajna to replace director Kevin Jarre on the film's set in Arizona. The development stirred feelings of resentment among some cast and crew.
"No matter where I go or what I do, I'll be admitted to heaven for rewriting Tombstone with George," joked John Fasano, the film's associate producer. "He did everything that was expected of him and he did it well."
Known for his gruff demeanor as much as his keen intellect, he dismissed criticism of violence in "Rambo," the 1985 film about a U.S. combat veteran who returns to Vietnam on a one-man mission to rescue soldiers missing-in-action.
"What's with these prejudiced people? They're for censorship, not a free society," Cosmatos said with characteristic bluntness. "It's a psychological release for people to have a hero who can do the fighting and dirty work while we eat our popcorn."
Born in Florence, Italy and raised in Egypt and Cyprus, Cosmatos spoke six languages and was an avid bibliophile with a passion for cigars and film restoration.
He got his start as assistant director on Otto Preminger's "Exodus" (1960), played a small role in "Zorba the Greek" (1964) and wrote for the film journal "Sight and Sound." His other credits include "The Beloved" (1970), "Cobra" (1986), his second collaboration with "Rambo" star Sylvester Stallone, and the underwater thriller "Leviathan" (1989).
The writer-director moved to Victoria, Canada, 24 years ago after living in London, Sweden, Mexico and briefly in Los Angeles. His wife, Swedish sculptress Birgitta Ljungberg Cosmatos, died in 1997.
Cosmatos is survived by his son, Panos; his brother, Memos, of Cyprus; a nephew, Roccos, of Romania; and several nieces and nephews of his late wife in Sweden.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact that you're dealing with an expert in guerilla warfare. With a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, to ignore weather, to live off the land. To eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In Vietnam his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill, period! Win by attrition. Well, Rambo was the best!
You don't seem to want to accept the fact that you're dealing with an expert in guerilla warfare. With a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, to ignore weather, to live off the land. To eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In Vietnam his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill, period! Win by attrition. Well, Rambo was the best!
My fav 80's movie was the documentary "Red Dawn."
They're showing it all day at your local Ammu-nation
And he was born in Italy, grew up in Egypt & Cyprus, live in Canada and made Rambo.
Irony or what.
Ted Kotcheff directed Rambo: First Blood..the sequels were a little over the top.
ESCAPE to ATHENA!! That's a rare gem
Escape to Athena (1979)
Directed by
George P. Cosmatos
Writing credits
Edward Anhalt
George P. Cosmatos (story)
Genre: Action / Adventure / War
Tagline: The patriot, the professor, the comic and the stripper, were fighting for what they believed in. Getting rich!
Plot Summary: During the World War II, the prisoners of a German camp in a greek island are trying to escape. They don't want only their freedom... (more)
User Comments: an underrated, underdog of a movie (more)
User Rating: 5.2/10 (427 votes)
Roger Moore .... Major Otto Hecht
Telly Savalas .... Zeno
David Niven .... Professor Blake
Stefanie Powers .... Dottie Del Mar
Claudia Cardinale .... Eleana
Richard Roundtree .... Nat Judson
Sonny Bono .... Bruno Rotelli
Elliott Gould .... Charlie
I think they count First Blood as I
Stallone ruled Hollywood in the '80s with the Rambo & Rocky franchises.
As a wife that has had to sit through umpteen viewings of Rambos I through 674 over and over again, I still say, Rest In Peace. And I hope to God you left no heirs to pass this legacy on to.
A friend of mine was a cavalry-extra in one of the Rambo sequels (IV?).
There was a film called 'First Blood' and two sequels...'Rambo: First Blood Part 2' and Rambo 3. Cavalry suggests it may have been Rambo 3.
Thanks ... seemed like there were more of them ... I think it must have been III, from the other comments, because Albert mentioned working with Afghans. Said they were insane, but he'd never seen better riders in his life!
Missing in action 2 was an awesome movie
"Rambo was a pussy!"
~ Sylvester Stallone as Raymond 'Ray' Tango
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.