Richard Donner, born Richard Donald Schwartzberg in 1930, was a filmmaker whose career in television and film spanned six decades, influencing trends and genres worldwide. Starting with television in 1957, he directed episodes of iconic shows like The Rifleman and The Twilight Zone. His breakthrough came with the horror classic The Omen in 1976, followed by the groundbreaking superhero film Superman, which elevated the fantasy genre. Donner also revitalized the buddy cop film with Lethal Weapon and directed beloved films like The Goonies. Alongside wife Lauren, he produced successful franchises including Free Willy and X-Men, solidifying his legacy as a reliable purveyor of action blockbusters.
The roles that explain the career.
63 credits across 4 departments.
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 2013 | Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics | Film | |
| 2012 | Casting By | Self | Film |
| 2009 | No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos | Self | Film |
| 2009 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Executive Producer | Film |
| 2006 | Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman | Self | Film |
| 2006 | Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut | Man Walking by Diner (uncredited) | Film |
| 2006 | 16 Blocks | Director | Film |
| 2006 | Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut | Director | Film |
| 2003 | Timeline | Director | Film |
| 2003 | Timeline | Producer | Film |
| 2002 | Ritual | Producer | Film |
| 2001 | Out Cold | Snooty Bartender (uncredited) | Film |
| 2000 | 666: The Omen Revealed | Film | |
| 2000 | X-Men | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1999 | Any Given Sunday | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1999 | Made Men | Producer | Film |
| 1998 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Director | Film |
| 1998 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Producer | Film |
| 1997 | Conspiracy Theory | Director | Film |
| 1997 | Perversions of Science | Executive Producer | TV |
| 1997 | Free Willy 3: The Rescue | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1997 | Double Tap | Producer | Film |
| 1997 | Conspiracy Theory | Producer | Film |
| 1996 | Bordello of Blood | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1995 | Assassins | Director | Film |
| 1995 | Assassins | Producer | Film |
| 1995 | Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1995 | Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1994 | Maverick | Director | Film |
| 1994 | Free Willy | Executive Producer | TV |
| 1994 | Maverick | Producer | Film |
| 1993 | Free Willy | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1992 | Radio Flyer | Director | Film |
| 1992 | Two-Fisted Tales | Director | Film |
| 1992 | Lethal Weapon 3 | Director | Film |
| 1992 | Two-Fisted Tales | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1992 | Lethal Weapon 3 | Producer | Film |
| 1991 | Delirious | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1989 | Lethal Weapon 2 | Director | Film |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt | Executive Producer | TV |
| 1989 | Lethal Weapon 2 | Producer | Film |
| 1987 | Lethal Weapon | Director | Film |
| 1987 | Lethal Weapon | Producer | Film |
| 1987 | The Lost Boys | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1986 | Scream Greats, Vol.2: Satanism and Witchcraft | Himself | Film |
| 1985 | Ladyhawke | Director | Film |
| 1985 | The Goonies | Director | Film |
| 1985 | Ladyhawke | Producer | Film |
| 1985 | The Goonies | Producer | Film |
| 1982 | The Toy | Director | Film |
| 1981 | The Final Conflict | Executive Producer | Film |
| 1980 | Inside Moves | Director | Film |
| 1978 | Superman | Director | Film |
| 1976 | The Omen | Director | Film |
| 1975 | Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic | Director | Film |
| 1974 | Sons and Daughters | Director | TV |
| 1973 | Nightside | Director | Film |
| 1972 | Sam Cade | Director | Film |
| 1970 | Twinky | Director | Film |
| 1968 | Salt & Pepper | Director | Film |
| 1965 | The Trials of O'Brien | Director | TV |
| 1961 | X-15 | Director | Film |
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