Richard Donner, acclaimed director of ‘Superman,’ ‘The Goonies,’ dead at 91

Prolific director-producer Richard Donner, whose film credits dominated 1970s and ’80s action-packed cinema, died Monday at the age of 91, his wife and business manager confirmed to Deadline.

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Producer Lauren Schuler Donner, who co-owned The Donners’ Co. with her husband, confirmed to the outlet that no cause of death has been released.

Marked by big-screen successes such as 1976′s “The Omen” and 1980s stalwart “The Goonies,” Donner’s directing career included the original “Superman” film in 1978, the “Lethal Weapon” franchise and 1988′s “Scrooged,” before he branched out into producing the likes of “Free Willy,” “The Lost Boys” and the “X-Men” franchise, Variety reported.

Born Richard Donald Schwartzberg in the Bronx, Donner attended Parker Junior College and New York University, where he majored in business and theater. Although he began his career as an actor, Donner soon gravitated toward television directing, with credits including “Wanted: Dead or Alive,” “The Twilight Zone,” “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and “The Fugitive,” the outlet reported.

According to Deadline, Donner directed all four of the “Lethal Weapon” movies over the course of 11 years, grossing a combined $900 million globally.

Donner is survived by Shuler Donner, whom he married in 1986, Variety reported.

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