Jonathan Kaplan obit

Jonathan Kaplan, Director of ‘The Accused’ and ‘ER,’ Dies at 77

The nephew of Van Heflin also helmed ‘Love Field,’ ‘Truck Turner,’ ‘Over the Edge,’ ‘Bad Girls,’ ‘Immediate Family’ and other admired films. 

He was not on the list.

Jonathan Kaplan, who directed Jodie Foster to a best actress Oscar in The Accused and received five Emmy nominations for his work as a helmer and producer on ER, has died. He was 77.

Kaplan died Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with liver cancer, his daughter, Molly Kaplan, told The Hollywood Reporter. “He was a loving, supportive father,” she said.

Kaplan, whose parents both worked in show business and whose uncle was Oscar-winning actor Van Heflin, served an apprenticeship with famed B-movie producer Roger Corman and then directed the blaxploitation classic Truck Turner (1974), starring Isaac Hayes, Yaphet Kotto and Nichelle Nichols.

Kaplan also guided Michelle Pfeiffer to a best actress Oscar nomination in the 1960s-set Love Field (1992), and his directing résumé included the Shirley Muldowney biopic Heart Like a Wheel (1983), starring Bonnie Bedelia and Beau Bridges; Bad Girls (1987), the distaff Western starring Madeleine Stowe, Mary Stuart Masterson, Andie MacDowell and Drew Barrymore; and the drama Immediate Family (1989), starring Masterson, Glenn Close and James Woods.

Based on a true story, The Accused (1988) starred Foster as Sarah Tobias, a waitress who is gang raped by three men at a local bar while onlookers cheered, then goes on to testify against them.

The legal drama, written by onetime newspaper reporter Tom Topor, tested poorly in advance screenings but was famously championed by Paramount heads Sherry Lansing and Stanley R. Jaffe, and Foster would receive the first of her two Oscars. After coming on board, Kaplan wisely identified that the second of the many script versions was the one that should be filmed.

Kaplan shared Emmy nominations for outstanding drama series with the likes of John Wells and Michael Crichton in 1999, 2000 and 2001 for producing ER, and he received directing noms in 2000 and ’01 as well. He helmed 40 episodes of the NBC series from 1997-2009.

Kaplan was born in Paris on Nov. 25, 1947. His father, Sol Kaplan, was a composer for film and TV (I Can Get It for You Wholesale, Star Trek), and his mother, Frances Heflin, portrayed Mona Kane Tyler (mother of Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane) on All My Children. (She was the sister of Van Heflin, known for his turns in Johnny Eager, Shane and Gunman’s Walk, to name just three of his great films.)

Kaplan lived in the Los Angeles area until 1954, when his dad moved the family to New York to work on Broadway after getting blacklisted in Hollywood following an appearance before the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

Kaplan, then 10, and his mom worked as understudies in the 1957-59 Broadway production of William Inge’s The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, directed by Elia Kazan, and he later did improvisational theater with Elaine May.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and then studied film at New York University, where he was tutored by Martin Scorsese, who recommended him to Corman. The producer hired him to direct Night Call Nurses (1972), followed by another sexploitation film, The Student Teachers (1973).

“Working with and for Roger Corman was great,” he said. “All I had to do was deliver the nudity, the thrills, the kinkiness, and the comedy, that had become Roger’s trademark — and I did.”

After helming the Jim Brown-starring, prison-set The Slams (1973) for Roger’s brother, producer Gene Corman, Kaplan was handed the reins to Truck Turner (1974) by producer Lawrence Gordon.

“When I was first given the project, the studio [American International Pictures] was thinking about using either Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine or Robert Mitchum in the lead role,” he recalled. “But then I got a call from Larry telling me that I would be making the picture with Isaac Hayes instead. I said, ‘That’s quite a switch from Robert Mitchum!’”

Kaplan followed with his first major-studio film, the neo-noir White Line Fever (1975), starring Jan-Michael Vincent and Kay Lenz at Columbia Pictures. (He also co-wrote that movie.)

Kaplan next was hired by Dino de Laurentiis to direct Mr. Billion (1977), which introduced Italian action star Terence Hill to U.S. audiences, but he would call that the biggest failure of his career. After helming the cult favorite Over the Edge (1979), starring Matt Dillon in his film debut, he retreated to TV to make telefilms.

In the ’80s, Kaplan directed music videos featuring Barbra Streisand (“Left in the Dark”), Rod Stewart (“Infatuation,” “Lost in You”) and John Cougar Mellencamp (“Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Small Town,” “Rain on the Scarecrow,” “Get a Leg Up”).

He also helmed Project X (1987), starring Matthew Broderick; Unlawful Entry (1992); starring Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta and Stowe; and his final feature, Brokedown Palace (1999), starring Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale.

He directed episodes of Fallen Angels, Law & Order: SVU, Crossing Jordan, Without a Trace, Brothers and Sisters and Witches of East End as well.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include his sister, actress Nora Heflin, and his nieces, Hannah and Eliza. Another sister, actress Mady Kaplan, died three or four years ago.

Kaplan was married to Julie Selzer — casting director on The Accused and most of his projects in the ’80s — from 1987 until their 2001 divorce. “Everyone in the cast and crew just loved him,” she told THR. “He worked so fast, they all loved that.”

Director

Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Rachel Boston, and Jenna Dewan in Witches of East End (2013)

Witches of East End

7.5

TV Series

Director

2013

1 episode

 

Jennifer Love Hewitt in The Client List (2011)

The Client List

6.5

TV Series

Director

2013

1 episode

 

Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

8.1

TV Series

Director

2005–2012

8 episodes

 

Patrick Wilson in A Gifted Man (2011)

A Gifted Man

7.0

TV Series

Director

2011

2 episodes

 

Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Balthazar Getty, Rachel Griffiths, Sarah Jane Morris, John Pyper-Ferguson, Matthew Rhys, Ron Rifkin, Patricia Wettig, and Dave Annable in Brothers & Sisters (2006)

Brothers & Sisters

7.5

TV Series

Director

2010

2 episodes

 

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Anthony LaPaglia, Josh Hopkins, Enrique Murciano, Eric Close, Poppy Montgomery, and Roselyn Sanchez in Without a Trace (2002)

Without a Trace

7.0

TV Series

Director

2006–2009

9 episodes

 

Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)

ER

7.9

TV Series

Director

1997–2009

40 episodes

 

Jill Hennessy in Crossing Jordan (2001)

Crossing Jordan

7.0

TV Series

Director

2005

1 episode

 

Ming-Na Wen, Angie Harmon, and David Norona in Inconceivable (2005)

Inconceivable

6.2

TV Series

Director

2005

1 episode

 

Sally Field, Chris Sarandon, Diahann Carroll, Pat Hingle, and Miguel Sandoval in The Court (2002)

The Court

5.1

TV Series

Director

2002

1 episode

 

Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale in Brokedown Palace (1999)

Brokedown Palace

6.4

Director

1999

 

Anthony Edwards, Sam Neill, and Eric Roberts in In Cold Blood (1996)

In Cold Blood

6.2

TV Mini Series

Director

1996

2 episodes

 

Alan Arkin and George Segal in Picture Windows (1994)

Picture Windows

6.9

TV Series

Director

1995

1 episode

 

Salma Hayek and Antonio Sabato Jr. in Rebel Highway (1994)

Rebel Highway

5.5

TV Series

Director

1994

1 episode

 

Reform School Girl (1994)

Reform School Girl

4.7

TV Movie

Director

1994

 

Drew Barrymore, Andie MacDowell, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Madeleine Stowe in Bad Girls (1994)

Bad Girls

5.2

Director

1994

 

Fallen Angels (1993)

Fallen Angels

6.4

TV Series

Director

1993

1 episode

 

Michelle Pfeiffer, Dennis Haysbert, and Stephanie McFadden in Love Field (1992)

Love Field

6.5

Director

1992

 

Ray Liotta, Kurt Russell, and Madeleine Stowe in Unlawful Entry (1992)

Unlawful Entry

6.4

Director

1992

 

John Mellencamp: Get a Leg Up (1991)

John Mellencamp: Get a Leg Up

5.7

Music Video

Director

1991

 

James Woods, Glenn Close, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Kevin Dillon in Immediate Family (1989)

Immediate Family

6.0

Director (directed by)

1989

 

Jodie Foster and Kelly McGillis in The Accused (1988)

The Accused

7.1

Director

1988

 

Rod Stewart: Lost in You (1988)

Rod Stewart: Lost in You

6.3

Music Video

Director

1988

 

Project X (1987)

Project X

6.2

Director

1987

 

John Cougar Mellencamp: Rain on the Scarecrow (1986)

John Cougar Mellencamp: Rain on the Scarecrow

5.9

Music Video

Director

1986

 

John Mellencamp in John Cougar Mellencamp: Small Town (1985)

John Cougar Mellencamp: Small Town

5.9

Music Video

Director

1985

 

John Mellencamp in John Cougar Mellencamp: Lonely Ol' Night (1985)

John Cougar Mellencamp: Lonely Ol' Night

6.1

Music Video

Director

1985

 

Rod Stewart in Rod Stewart: Infatuation (1984)

Rod Stewart: Infatuation

6.9

Music Video

Director

1984

 

Barbra Streisand in Barbra Streisand: Left in the Dark (1984)

Barbra Streisand: Left in the Dark

7.2

Music Video

Director

1984

 

Jennifer Jason Leigh in Girls of the White Orchid (1983)

Girls of the White Orchid

5.1

TV Movie

Director (directed by)

1983

 

Heart Like a Wheel (1983)

Heart Like a Wheel

6.7

Director

1983

 

The Gentleman Bandit (1981)

The Gentleman Bandit

5.8

TV Movie

Director

1981

 

The Hustler of Muscle Beach (1980)

The Hustler of Muscle Beach

5.8

TV Movie

Director

1980

 

Bess Armstrong, Max Gail, and Harold Gould in 11th Victim (1979)

11th Victim

5.1

TV Movie

Director

1979

 

Over the Edge (1979)

Over the Edge

7.3

Director

1979

 

Mr. Billion (1977)

Mr. Billion

5.4

Director

1977

 

Kay Lenz and Jan-Michael Vincent in White Line Fever (1975)

White Line Fever

6.1

Director

1975

 

Isaac Hayes in Truck Turner (1974)

Truck Turner

6.9

Director

1974

 

The Slams (1973)

The Slams

5.9

Director

1973

 

Susan Damante, Brooke Mills, and Brenda Sutton in The Student Teachers (1973)

The Student Teachers

4.5

Director

1973

 

Night Call Nurses (1972)

Night Call Nurses

4.5

Director

1972

 

Writer

Mr. Billion (1977)

Mr. Billion

5.4

Writer

1977

 

Kay Lenz and Jan-Michael Vincent in White Line Fever (1975)

White Line Fever

6.1

written by

1975

 

Actor

The Howling (1981)

The Howling

6.5

Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)

1981

 

Cannonball! (1976)

Cannonball!

5.5

All-Night Gas Station Attendant

1976

 

Hollywood Boulevard (1976)

Hollywood Boulevard

5.8

Scotty

1976

 

Isaac Hayes in Truck Turner (1974)

Truck Turner

6.9

Cook (uncredited)

1974

 

The Slams (1973)

The Slams

5.9

Portable Toilet Delivery Man (uncredited)

1973

 

Producer

Dick Miller in That Guy Dick Miller (2014)

That Guy Dick Miller

7.4

executive producer

2014

 

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Anthony LaPaglia, Josh Hopkins, Enrique Murciano, Eric Close, Poppy Montgomery, and Roselyn Sanchez in Without a Trace (2002)

Without a Trace

7.0

TV Series

co-executive producer

2006–2009

65 episodes

 

Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)

ER

7.9

TV Series

co-executive producerproducerconsulting producer

1997–2006

198 episodes

 

Additional Crew

Marlene Dietrich, Charlton Heston, Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon in The Celluloid Closet (1995)

The Celluloid Closet

7.8

additional funding

1995

 

Thanks

To Rise Above

special thanks

Completed

 

Ken Friedman Remembering 'White Line Fever'

Video

thanks

2015

 

Anatomy of a Nurse Film

7.2

Video

special thanks

2012

 

Hide & Seek

6.8

Short

special thanks

2006

 

Fran Drescher, Dennis Farina, and Leo Rossi in We're Talkin' Serious Money (1992)

We're Talkin' Serious Money

5.4

special thanks

1992

 

The Howling (1981)

The Howling

6.5

special thanks

1981

 

Self

Wide Streets + Narrow Minds

6.0

Video

Self

2021

 

The Movies That Made Me (2018)

The Movies That Made Me

7.9

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2020

1 episode

 

Trailers from Hell (2007)

Trailers from Hell

8.7

TV Series

Self - Narrator

2012–2014

7 episodes

 

Dick Miller in That Guy Dick Miller (2014)

That Guy Dick Miller

7.4

Self

2014

 

Anatomy of a Nurse Film

7.2

Video

Self

2012

 

Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010)

Machete Maidens Unleashed!

7.3

Self - New World Filmmaker

2010

 

American Grindhouse (2010)

American Grindhouse

7.1

Self - Director, 'Truck Turner'

2010

 

HBO First Look (1992)

HBO First Look

6.2

TV Series

Self

1999

1 episode

 

Chapter 31 - How the Bad Girls Conquered the West

Video

Self - Director

1994

 

Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel (1978)

Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel

6.9

Self

1978

 

Archive Footage

Damien Duvot in Les Chroniques du Mea (2012)

Les Chroniques du Mea

6.9

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2017

1 episode

 

Roger Corman in Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel (2011)

Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel

7.6

Self (archive footage)

2011