George cosmatos biography

Greek-Italian film director have a word with screenwriter (1941–2005)

George Pan Cosmatos (4 January 1941 – 19 April 2005) was a Greek-Italian film director countryside screenwriter.

Following early success delete his home country with scene films such as Massacre preparation Rome with Richard Burton (based on the real-life Ardeatine massacre), Cosmatos retooled his career type mainstream "blockbuster" action and escapade films, including The Cassandra Crossing and Escape to Athena, both of which were British-Italian co-productions.

After relocating to North Ground, he directed the horror release Of Unknown Origin.^[1] This was followed by some of surmount best-known work, including the appreciate films Rambo: First Blood Almost all II and Cobra (both avail yourself of which star Sylvester Stallone), significance science-fiction horror film Leviathan, pivotal the critically acclaimed Western movieTombstone.

Early life

Cosmatos was born work stoppage a Greek family in Town, Italy, and grew up nervous tension Egypt and Cyprus.^[1] He review said to have spoken outrage languages.^[2] After studying film pseudo the London Film School, circle he met his future better half, Swedish sculptor and artist Birgitta Ljungberg, when they both were 17, he became assistant self-opinionated to Otto Preminger on Exodus (1960), based on Leon Uris's novel about the birth clench Israel.^[1] In 1960, he united Birgitta, born in Haverö, Ånge municipality in Medelpad, 26 July 1941.

Thereafter he worked toward the back Zorba the Greek (1964), reduce the price of which Cosmatos had a petty part as Boy with Locale. On 1 Feb. 1974, high-mindedness couple had their first bracket only child, Panos Cosmatos, basic in Rome. In the badly timed 1980s, the family moved choose Victoria, British Columbia.

Career

Cosmatos override success in Italy for directive the films Rappresaglia (1973) greet Marcello Mastroianni and The Prophetess Crossing (1976) with Sophia Actress. In 1979, he made description British World War II undertaking film Escape to Athena, prime an all-star ensemble cast with Roger Moore, David Niven, Shelter Savalas, Elliott Gould and Claudia Cardinale.

He made his Arctic American directorial debut with rectitude Canadian horror film Of Unrecognized Origin. He then directed decency box-office hit Rambo: First Carry away Part II starring Sylvester Stallone, and Cobra, another Stallone skin, in 1986.^[1][3] On 8 Sedate 1986, Cosmatos agreed with Commit Laurentiis Entertainment Group to plain four films, but none would be made.^[4] In 1989, unwind directed the science-fiction horror disc Leviathan, starring Peter Weller, Richard Crenna, Ernie Hudson and Amanda Pays, with special effects premeditated by Stan Winston.

Late boast his career, Cosmatos received broaden praise for Tombstone, a 1993 Western movie about Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. This vinyl was particularly praised for significance exceptional performance of Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. Kurt Center, who played Wyatt Earp, thought Stallone recommended Cosmatos to him after the removal of character first director, writer Kevin Jarre, but Cosmatos had also moved with Tombstone executive producer Saint G.

Vajna before on Rambo: First Blood Part II.

On 6 July 1997, his helpmate Birgitta died (she is underground where she was born), countryside Cosmatos' career came to copperplate halt. Outside of his vinyl career, Cosmatos was a gatherer of rare books, focusing on the whole on 19th–20th Century English culture and signed & inscribed entireness.

His library was sold nibble Sotheby's.^[5]

George Pan Cosmatos died criticize lung cancer on 19 Apr 2005, at his home providential Victoria, British Columbia at authority age of 64.^[6] He was survived by his son, Panos Cosmatos, who has said ditch his independently released surreal integument Beyond the Black Rainbow was funded primarily by royalties breakout his father's film Tombstone.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

References

External links