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.
Hey! A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.
Oh, wait, wrong movie.
It just got released to DVD.
LOL
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