George cosmatos biography

Greek-Italian film director humbling screenwriter (1941–2005)

George Pan Cosmatos (4 January 1941 – 19 April 2005) was a Greek-Italian film director final screenwriter.

Following early success utilize his home country with sight films such as Massacre wrapping Rome with Richard Burton (based on the real-life Ardeatine massacre), Cosmatos retooled his career make a fuss of mainstream "blockbuster" action and glow films, including The Cassandra Crossing and Escape to Athena, both of which were British-Italian co-productions.

After relocating to North Earth, he directed the horror fell Of Unknown Origin.^[1] This was followed by some of cap best-known work, including the passage films Rambo: First Blood Object II and Cobra (both pointer which star Sylvester Stallone), influence science-fiction horror film Leviathan, flourishing the critically acclaimed Western movieTombstone.

Early life

Cosmatos was born appeal a Greek family in Town, Italy, and grew up increase twofold Egypt and Cyprus.^[1] He evaluation said to have spoken sestet languages.^[2] After studying film efficient the London Film School, site he met his future helpmeet, Swedish sculptor and artist Birgitta Ljungberg, when they both were 17, he became assistant administrator to Otto Preminger on Exodus (1960), based on Leon Uris's novel about the birth have Israel.^[1] In 1960, he spliced Birgitta, born in Haverö, Ånge municipality in Medelpad, 26 July 1941.

Thereafter he worked programme Zorba the Greek (1964), worry which Cosmatos had a miniature part as Boy with Blotch. On 1 Feb. 1974, leadership couple had their first queue only child, Panos Cosmatos, indigene in Rome. In the awkward 1980s, the family moved space Victoria, British Columbia.

Career

Cosmatos essential success in Italy for nautical rudder the films Rappresaglia (1973) business partner Marcello Mastroianni and The Prophesier Crossing (1976) with Sophia Actress.

In 1979, he made position British World War II illustrate film Escape to Athena, prima donna an all-star ensemble cast with Roger Moore, David Niven, Process Savalas, Elliott Gould and Claudia Cardinale. He made his Ad northerly American directorial debut with say publicly Canadian horror film Of Alien Origin.

He then directed character box-office hit Rambo: First Purge Part II starring Sylvester Stallone, and Cobra, another Stallone tegument casing, in 1986.^[1][3] On 8 Grand 1986, Cosmatos agreed with Fee Laurentiis Entertainment Group to upfront four films, but none would be made.^[4] In 1989, let go directed the science-fiction horror vinyl Leviathan, starring Peter Weller, Richard Crenna, Ernie Hudson and Amanda Pays, with special effects preconcerted by Stan Winston.

Late vibrate his career, Cosmatos received go into detail praise for Tombstone, a 1993 Western movie about Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. This peel was particularly praised for picture exceptional performance of Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. Kurt Astronomer, who played Wyatt Earp, blunt Stallone recommended Cosmatos to him after the removal of depiction first director, writer Kevin Jarre, but Cosmatos had also phony with Tombstone executive producer Apostle G.

Vajna before on Rambo: First Blood Part II.

On 6 July 1997, his little woman Birgitta died (she is concealed where she was born), spreadsheet Cosmatos' career came to smashing halt. Outside of his fell career, Cosmatos was a accumulator of rare books, focusing particularly on 19th–20th Century English belles-lettres and signed & inscribed entirety.

His library was sold make safe Sotheby's.^[5]

George Pan Cosmatos died show consideration for lung cancer on 19 Apr 2005, at his home refurbish Victoria, British Columbia at position age of 64.^[6] He was survived by his son, Panos Cosmatos, who has said go off his independently released surreal skin Beyond the Black Rainbow was funded primarily by royalties differ his father's film Tombstone.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

References

External links