Mark Rydell obit

Mark Rydell Dies: Oscar-Nominated ‘On Golden Pond’, ‘The Rose’ Director Was 97

 He was not on the list.

Mark Rydell, the Oscar-nominated director of 1981’s On Golden Pond and two of Bette Midler’s signature films — The Rose and For the Boys — died Thursday of natural causes in Los Angeles. He was 97.

His death was announced by Midler on Instagram today.

“Mark Rydell, the director or my first film, The Rose, died this morning. He was an actor of note before he became a director, and I was so lucky to have met him when I did; he taught me so much on The Rose and later on For The Boys. Two Oscars nominations both because of him. He was the actor’s whisperer; just a few words was all it took to understand what was needed.”

Other films directed by Rydell included The Fox (1967), The Reivers (1969), Cinderella Liberty (1973) and The River (1984).

Born Mortimer H. Rydell on March 23, 1929, in New York City, Rydell studied music with the intention of becoming an orchestra conductor but pivoted to acting after attending The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City and landing roles on in the mid-1950s and early ’60s on New York-based soap operas The Edge of Night and As the World Turns.

A busy acting career was launched, with guest appearances over the next decade on episodes of such primetime series as The Phil Silvers Show, Robert Montgomery Presents, The Big Story, Naked City and Wanted: Dead Or Alive.

By the mid-1960s, though, Rydell was increasingly pivoting toward directing, with such early TV credits as episodes of The Virginian, Mr. Novak, 10 episodes of Ben Casey, I Spy, The Wild Wild West, The Fugitive and Gunsmoke.

Rydell made his feature film directing debut in 1967 with The Fox, based on a D.H. Lawrence novella and starring Sandy Dennis, Anne Heywood and Keir Dullea. Though never explicitly stated, the film’s suggestion of a lesbian relationship between the two women was a rarity of the era.

Rydell directed Steve McQueen in 1969’s The Reivers, John Wayne in 1972’s The Cowboys and James Caan and Marsha Mason in 1973’s Cinderella Liberty. He would reteam with Caan on 1976’s Harry and Walter Go To New York and, that same year, directed the pilot episode of the hit ABC domestic drama Family.

His highest profile film to date came in 1979 with Midler’s movie debut, The Rose. Based loosely on the life and death of rock star Janis Joplin, The Rose made a movie star of Midler, earning her an Oscar nomination as well as one for co-star Frederic Forrest.

The Rose‘s success led to Rydell’s hiring to direct the much anticipated On Golden Pond, the film adaptation of playwright Ernest Thompson’s 1979 play. The movie would star Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda in one of the most celebrating casting coups of its day. Rydell was nominated for an Oscar, as was Jane Fonda. Both Henry Fonda and Hepburn won their Academy Awards, as did Thompson for his adapted screenplay.

Rydell continued his run of star-driven films with 1984’s The River with Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek, and 1991’s For The Boys, a project that reunited the director with both Midler and Caan. A heart-tugging musical comedy-drama, For The Boys was set largely during the military conflicts of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, with the two stars playing characters loosely based on the troop-entertaining Martha Raye and Bob Hope. Midler was nominated for her second Oscar, and won a Golden Globe for her performance.

Despite Midler’s performance, For The Boys was both a commercial and critical disappointment, and, aside from 1994’s Intersection starring Richard Gere and Sharon Stone (critics panned it, audiences mostly ignored it) Rydell turned increasingly back to television for his directing jobs. Credits from the period include TV movies Crime of the Century and James Dean, with Rydell returning to the big screen for the 2007 crime-and-gambling film Even Money starring Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Forest Whitaker, Nick Cannon and Kelsey Grammer. The film was not a success.

In all, eight actors in Rydell films would be Oscar-nominated for their performances: both Henry and Jane Fonda, Midler (twice), Mason, Hepburn, Spacek, Forrest and The Reivers’ Rupert Crosse.

The director occasionally performed small roles in his films, and had producing credits for, among others, Cinderella Liberty, For The Boys, James Dean and Even Money.

Rydell was married to actor Joanne Linville (Guiding Light, The Goddess, 1976’s A Star Is Born) from 1962 to 1973. The couple had two children, daughter Amy and son Christopher. A second marriage to documentarian and producer Esther Rydell produced a son, Alexander, before ending in divorce.

Survivors include his three children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Additional Crew

Meredith Baxter, Kristy McNichol, James Broderick, Gary Frank, Sada Thompson, Michael Schackelford, and David Schackelford in Family (1976)

Family

7.7

TV Series

executive consultant

1976–1980

73 episodes

 

Director

Anne Heche, Sean Astin, James Cromwell, John Hurt, Malcolm McDowell, Judy Davis, Brian Dennehy, Sam Waterston, Clifton Collins Jr., James Denton, Stephen Hawking, Terry O'Quinn, and Elisabeth Röhm in Masters of Science Fiction (2007)

Masters of Science Fiction

6.7

TV Series

Director

2007

1 episode

 

Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Ray Liotta, Tim Roth, Kelsey Grammer, Jay Mohr, Forest Whitaker, and Nick Cannon in Even Money (2006)

Even Money

5.8

Director

2006

 

James Dean (2001)

James Dean

7.1

TV Movie

Director

2001

 

Crime of the Century (1996)

Crime of the Century

7.1

TV Movie

Director

1996

 

Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, and Lolita Davidovich in Intersection (1994)

Intersection

5.4

Director

1994

 

McBride and Groom

TV Movie

Director

1993

 

Bette Midler and James Caan in For the Boys (1991)

For the Boys

6.4

Director

1991

 

Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek in The River (1984)

The River

6.3

Director

1984

 

Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, and Doug McKeon in On Golden Pond (1981)

On Golden Pond

7.6

Director

1981

 

Bette Midler in The Rose (1979)

The Rose

7.0

directed by

1979

 

Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976)

Harry and Walter Go to New York

5.4

Director

1976

 

Meredith Baxter, Kristy McNichol, James Broderick, Gary Frank, Sada Thompson, Michael Schackelford, and David Schackelford in Family (1976)

Family

7.7

TV Series

Director

1976

1 episode

 

Cinderella Liberty (1973)

Cinderella Liberty

6.7

Director

1973

 

The Cowboys (1972)

The Cowboys

7.4

Director

1972

 

Steve McQueen in The Reivers (1969)

The Reivers

6.6

Director

1969

 

The Fox (1967)

The Fox

6.5

Director

1967

 

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

7.4

TV Series

Director

1966

1 episode

 

Gunsmoke (1955)

Gunsmoke

8.1

TV Series

Director

1964–1966

10 episodes

 

David Janssen in The Fugitive (1963)

The Fugitive

8.1

TV Series

Director

1966

1 episode

 

The Long, Hot Summer (1965)

The Long, Hot Summer

8.0

TV Series

Director

1965–1966

3 episodes

 

Robert Conrad and Ross Martin in The Wild Wild West (1965)

The Wild Wild West

8.1

TV Series

Director

1966

1 episode

 

Bill Cosby and Robert Culp in I Spy (1965)

I Spy

7.2

TV Series

Director

1965

3 episodes

 

Richard Crenna and Maxine Stuart in Slattery's People (1964)

Slattery's People

8.0

TV Series

Director

1965

1 episode

 

The Reporter (1964)

The Reporter

6.9

TV Series

Director

1964

1 episode

 

Ben Casey (1961)

Ben Casey

7.1

TV Series

Director

1963–1964

10 episodes

 

James Franciscus in Mr. Novak (1963)

Mr. Novak

7.4

TV Series

Director

1964

1 episode

 

James Drury, Doug McClure, and John McIntire in The Virginian (1962)

The Virginian

7.6

TV Series

Director (uncredited)

1963

1 episode

 

Actor

Jamie Lee Curtis, Edward Asner, Marion Ross, Mark Rydell, James Handy, Charles Robinson, Helen Reddy, Dahlia Waingort Guigui, David A. Lockhart, Ian Fisher, Brian Connors, Phillip Giannikas, Sitara Attaie, and Kathrine Kohl in Senior Entourage (2021)

Senior Entourage

4.1

Mark

2021

 

Brent Huff, Loren Lester, and Kate Vernon in Chicanery (2017)

Chicanery

5.6

Jack Sobel

2017

 

108 Minutes, The Yuri Gagarin Letter

Short

Yuri Gagarin

2012

 

Good Men (2011)

Good Men

7.1

Short

Marcus

2011

 

Door to Door

Short

Milton

2009

 

Remembering Nigel (2009)

Remembering Nigel

6.0

Mark Rydell

2009

 

Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Ray Liotta, Tim Roth, Kelsey Grammer, Jay Mohr, Forest Whitaker, and Nick Cannon in Even Money (2006)

Even Money

5.8

Ivan

2006

 

Treat Williams, Gregory Smith, and Emily VanCamp in Everwood (2002)

Everwood

7.6

TV Series

Jacob Hoffman

2002

2 episodes

 

Hollywood Ending (2002)

Hollywood Ending

6.5

Al

2002

 

James Dean (2001)

James Dean

7.1

TV Movie

Jack Warner

2001

 

A Man Is Mostly Water (2000)

A Man Is Mostly Water

6.8

Distributor

2000

 

Lena Olin and Robert Redford in Havana (1990)

Havana

6.1

Meyer Lansky

1990

 

Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)

Punchline

5.9

Romeo

1988

 

Cinderella Liberty (1973)

Cinderella Liberty

6.7

Gutteral Mischief (as Marty Augustine)

1973

 

Elliott Gould in The Long Goodbye (1973)

The Long Goodbye

7.5

Marty Augustine

1973

 

The Dick Powell Theatre (1961)

The Dick Powell Theatre

7.4

TV Series

Yutch

1962

1 episode

 

Steve McQueen in Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958)

Wanted: Dead or Alive

8.0

TV Series

Tom Adams

1960

1 episode

 

Paul Stewart in Deadline (1959)

Deadline

7.5

TV Series

Evans

1959

1 episode

 

Naked City (1958)

Naked City

8.2

TV Series

Ralph Harris

1959

1 episode

 

As the World Turns (1956)

As the World Turns

6.3

TV Series

Jeff Baker

1958

1 episode

 

Robert Shayne in Navy Log (1955)

Navy Log

8.0

TV Series

Smitty

1957

1 episode

 

The Big Story (1949)

The Big Story

6.6

TV Series

Frank Robert Evans

1956

1 episode

 

Sal Mineo, John Cassavetes, Denise Alexander, and James Whitmore in Crime in the Streets (1956)

Crime in the Streets

6.6

Lou Macklin

1956

 

Frontiers of Faith (1952)

Frontiers of Faith

6.6

TV Series

1956

1 episode

 

Sharon Gabet and Larkin Malloy in The Edge of Night (1956)

The Edge of Night

7.7

TV Series

Walt Johnson

1956

1 episode

 

Justice (1954)

Justice

5.2

TV Series

1956

1 episode

 

The Phil Silvers Show (1955)

The Phil Silvers Show

8.4

TV Series

Pvt. Tommy Vandemere

1955

1 episode

 

The Elgin Hour (1954)

The Elgin Hour

7.1

TV Series

Lou Macklin

1955

1 episode

 

Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)

Robert Montgomery Presents

7.8

TV Series

1955

1 episode

 

Kraft Mystery Theatre (1947)

Kraft Mystery Theatre

7.8

TV Series

1955

1 episode

 

Judson Laire and Peggy Wood in Mama (1949)

Mama

8.2

TV Series

1954

1 episode

 

Kraft Mystery Theatre (1947)

The Philco Television Playhouse

7.5

TV Series

1954

1 episode

 

The Marriage (1954)

The Marriage

TV Series

1954

1 episode

 

Danger (1950)

Danger

7.1

TV Series

1954

1 episode

 

Omnibus (1952)

Omnibus

8.2

TV Series

Customer

1953–1954

2 episodes

 

You Are There (1953)

You Are There

8.3

TV Series

Edward BishopAllessandro

1953

2 episodes

 

The Web (1950)

The Web

6.9

TV Series

1952

1 episode

 

Producer

A Coup in Camelot (2015)

A Coup in Camelot

8.2

executive producer

2015

 

Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Ray Liotta, Tim Roth, Kelsey Grammer, Jay Mohr, Forest Whitaker, and Nick Cannon in Even Money (2006)

Even Money

5.8

producer

2006

 

Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, and Robert Redford in An Unfinished Life (2005)

An Unfinished Life

7.0

executive producer

2005

 

James Dean (2001)

James Dean

7.1

TV Movie

executive producer

2001

 

Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, and Lolita Davidovich in Intersection (1994)

Intersection

5.4

producer

1994

 

Bette Midler and James Caan in For the Boys (1991)

For the Boys

6.4

executive producer

1991

 

Reese Witherspoon in The Man in the Moon (1991)

The Man in the Moon

7.2

producer

1991

 

Cinderella Liberty (1973)

Cinderella Liberty

6.7

produced by

1973

 

The Cowboys (1972)

The Cowboys

7.4

producer

1972

 

Soundtrack

Treat Williams, Gregory Smith, and Emily VanCamp in Everwood (2002)

Everwood

7.6

TV Series

performer: "My Way" (Comme d'Habitude)

2002

1 episode

 

Thanks

Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in Embracing Chaos: Making the African Queen (2010)

Embracing Chaos: Making the African Queen

7.4

Video

special thanks

2010

 

What's Up, Scarlet? (2005)

What's Up, Scarlet?

5.8

special thanks

2005

 

The Passing (1983)

The Passing

5.5

special thanks

1983

 

Self

The Needs of Kim Stanley

Self

Filming

 

Presenting Geraldine Page

Self

Post-production

 

Brighten Up the Room (2021)

Brighten Up the Room

Short

Self

2021

 

Smartphone Theatre (2020)

Smartphone Theatre

TV Series

Self

2021

1 episode

 

Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond (2016)

Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond

6.9

Self

2016

 

Conversations on Craft

TV Series

Self

2011

1 episode

 

Hollywood's Best Film Directors (2009)

Hollywood's Best Film Directors

6.8

TV Series

Self

2010

1 episode

 

Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in Embracing Chaos: Making the African Queen (2010)

Embracing Chaos: Making the African Queen

7.4

Video

Self

2010

 

Char·ac·ter (2009)

Char·ac·ter

7.5

Self

2009

 

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos (2008)

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos

7.8

Self

2008

 

Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon (2008)

Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon

8.1

Self

2008

 

The Cowboys: Together Again

7.9

Video

Self

2007

 

The 11th Annual Satellite Awards (2006)

The 11th Annual Satellite Awards

TV Special

Self

2006

 

American Masters (1985)

American Masters

8.2

TV Series

Self

1990–2006

3 episodes

 

Larry King in Larry King Live (1985)

Larry King Live

5.5

TV Series

Self

2004–2005

3 episodes

 

Biography (1987)

Biography

7.7

TV Series

Self - Director

1997–2004

3 episodes

 

E! True Hollywood Story (1996)

E! True Hollywood Story

6.5

TV Series

Self - Interviewee

1998–2004

2 episodes

 

A Woman of Substance: Katharine Hepburn Remembered

6.8

Video

Self

2003

 

Reflections on Golden Pond

6.9

Video

Self

2003

 

The Annual Golden Apple Awards

TV Special

Self

2003

 

Style Star (2003)

Style Star

6.5

TV Series

Self

2003

1 episode

 

Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s (2002)

Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s

6.1

TV Movie

Self (uncredited)

2002

 

The 52nd Annual American Cinema Editors Awards

TV Special

Self

2002

 

Lesley Ann Warren: A Cinderella Story (2000)

Lesley Ann Warren: A Cinderella Story

8.6

TV Movie

Self

2000

 

Intimate Portrait (1990)

Intimate Portrait

7.5

TV Series

Self

1998

1 episode

 

Steve McQueen: The King of Cool (1998)

Steve McQueen: The King of Cool

7.8

TV Movie

Self

1998

 

James Lipton in Inside the Actors Studio (1994)

Inside the Actors Studio

8.6

TV Series

Self

1996

1 episode

 

A Century of Cinema (1994)

A Century of Cinema

6.3

Self

1994

 

Jay Leno in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

5.3

TV Series

Self

1994

1 episode

 

The 44th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards

Self

1992

 

Kurt Luedtke in Naked Hollywood (1991)

Naked Hollywood

6.9

TV Mini Series

Self

1991

 

The 42th Annual Writers Guild of America Awards

TV Special

Self

1990

 

Unauthorized Biography: Jane Fonda (1988)

Unauthorized Biography: Jane Fonda

TV Special

Self

1988

 

De película (1982)

De película

8.2

TV Series

Self - Interviewee

1985–1987

2 episodes

 

The 38th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards

TV Special

Self

1986

 

Àngel Casas Show (1984)

Àngel Casas Show

6.5

TV Series

Self

1984

1 episode

 

The 41st Annual Golden Globe Awards (1984)

The 41st Annual Golden Globe Awards

5.2

TV Special

Self - Presenter

1984

 

Hollywood Greats (1977)

Hollywood Greats

7.6

TV Series

Self

1984

3 episodes

 

The 54th Annual Academy Awards (1982)

The 54th Annual Academy Awards

6.2

TV Special

Self - Nominee

1982

 

Starring Katharine Hepburn

6.8

TV Movie

Self - Interviewee

1981

 

Elwy Yost in Talking Film (1978)

Talking Film

7.2

TV Series

Self

1980

1 episode

 

Many Classic Moments (1978)

Many Classic Moments

7.7

Self

1978

 

The Paul Ryan Show (1977)

The Paul Ryan Show

4.9

TV Series

Self

1977–1992

1 episode

 

Mike Douglas in The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

The Mike Douglas Show

7.0

TV Series

Self - Director

1976

1 episode

 

The Breaking of Boys and the Making of Men in 'the Cowboys' (1972)

The Breaking of Boys and the Making of Men in 'the Cowboys'

7.8

Short

Self

1972

 

Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

8.5

TV Series

Self

1972

1 episode

 

Look Up and Live (1954)

Look Up and Live

5.7

TV Series

Self - Second Man

1960

2 episodes

 

Archive Footage

And the Oscar Goes to... (2014)

And the Oscar Goes to...

7.1

TV Movie

Self (archive footage)

2014

 

John Wayne: Behind the Scenes

6.5

Video

Self (archive footage)

2007