Mark Rydell, an Oscar-nominated director and actor whose career spanned decades and included critically acclaimed films like "The Rose" and "On Golden Pond," died on Thursday, August 13, at the age of 97. His daughter, Amy, confirmed his death from natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.
Rydell, born in New York City in March 1929, studied at the Juilliard School of Music and trained as an actor at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and the Actors Studio. He began his entertainment career in the 1950s with minor acting roles. His directing career took off in the 1960s with work on television shows such as "Ben Casey" and "Gunsmoke," and his feature film debut, "The Fox," in 1967, earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director.
He went on to direct notable films including "The Reivers" (1969), "The Cowboys" (1972) starring John Wayne, and "Cinderella Liberty" (1973) with James Caan and Marsha Mason. Rydell achieved wider recognition with the 1979 film "The Rose," which marked Bette Midler's film debut. The movie was a critical and commercial success, earning four Academy Award nominations.
In 1981, Rydell directed "On Golden Pond," starring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, and Jane Fonda. The film garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including a Best Director nod for Rydell. He also directed "The River" (1984) with Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek, which received four Academy Award nominations despite a lower box office performance.
Rydell's other directorial credits include "For The Boys" (1991), "Intersection" (1994), and "Even Money" (2006). He also directed television films such as "Crime Of The Century" (1996) and "James Dean" (2001). His final directing credit was an episode of "Masters Of Science Fiction" in 2007.
Beyond his directing work, Rydell occasionally acted. His final acting role was in the 2021 project "Senior Entourage."
Rydell was married twice and had three children. His first marriage to Joanne Linville from 1962 to 1973 resulted in two children, Amy and Christopher. He later married Esther Rydell, with whom he had a son named Alexander, before their divorce in 2007.
Actress Lesley Ann Warren, who worked with Rydell on "Harry And Walter Go To New York," remembered him as "always a joy to be around" and praised his deep understanding of actors' needs. "I adored him and his ever present twinkle," Warren wrote on Instagram, adding, "I am forever grateful to have known and loved him."