LOS ANGELES — Mark Rydell, the five-time Academy Award-nominated director of "On Golden Pond" and "The Rose," died at the age of 97. He died of natural causes at a retirement community for the entertainment industry in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles.

Amy Rydell stated that her father Mark Rydell died on Thursday. "Hard to put into words how much I loved my dad," she wrote. "He was truly one of a kind. Funniest and most talented person I’ve ever known." Actress Bette Midler also confirmed the death, posting that "Mark Rydell, the director or my first film, The Rose, died this morning." She added, "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," Midler said.

"He was the actor’s whisperer; just a few words was all it took to understand what was needed." She noted he was "Devoted to Meisner" and recalled "So many happy memories." The director earned four other Best Director nominations during his career. He was nominated for the 1967 film "The Fox," starring Sandy Dennis and Keir Dullea. He was nominated for the 1969 film "The Reivers," which starred Steve McQueen and featured Rupert Crosse, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

He was nominated for the 1973 film "Cinderella Liberty," starring James Caan and Marsha Mason, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. He was nominated for the 1979 film "The Rose," starring Bette Midler, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The character in "The Rose" was loosely based on Janis Joplin. Rydell was also nominated for Best Director for the 1984 film "The River," starring Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Rydell directed James Caan and Bette Midler in the 1991 film "For the Boys," for which Midler received another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. He produced the 1991 film "The Man in the Moon" starring Sam Waterston. He directed Richard Gere and Sharon Stone in the 1994 film "Intersection." He directed the HBO television movie "Crime of the Century" in 1996, starring Isabella Rossellini and Stephen Rea.

He directed the TNT television movie "James Dean" in 2001, starring James Franco, who received a Golden Globe award for his role. The television movie received 11 Emmy nominations, including Best Director. Rydell appeared in the movie "James Dean" as Warner Bros. Chief Jack Warner. He directed Kim Basinger, Kelsey Grammer, and Forest Whitaker in the 2006 film "Even Money," in which he also appeared. He directed an episode of the ABC series "Masters of Science Fiction" in 2007. He appeared in an episode of the television series "Everwood." He returned to the stage in 2006 to star in an Elaine May trilogy of one-acts in San Francisco.

Born Mortimer Harold Rydell on March 23, 1929, in New York City, Rydell majored in English and philosophy at New York University. He studied with jazz pianist Teddy Wilson at the Juilliard School of Music and worked as a jazz pianist in the 1950s to earn extra money. He spent two years in Japan during his Army service developing entertainment for military personnel.

He won a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and trained as an actor at the Actors Studio. He made his Broadway debut in "Seagulls Over Sorrento" with Rod Steiger and appeared on Broadway in "Handful of Fire" and "Moonbirds." He appeared in the CBS soap operas "The Edge of Night" and "As the World Turns." He made his film acting debut in 1956 in Don Siegel’s "Crime In The Streets" opposite John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo. He appeared in Robert Altman’s 1973 film "The Long Goodbye" as the psychotic gangster Marty Augustine, a role in which he directed Elliott Gould. He appeared as Meyer Lansky in Sydney Pollack’s film "Havana" and starred in the film "Punchline. He appeared in Woody Allen’s 2002 film Hollywood Ending. He directed episodes of the television series Mr. Novak," "Ben Casey," "I Spy," "The Wild Wild West," "The Long, Hot Summer," "The Fugitive," and "Gunsmoke." He directed the pilot of the ABC drama "Family" in 1976 and served as an executive consultant on the series from 1976 to 1980. In 2009, Rydell, Martin Landau, and Lyle Kessler taught a film workshop at UCLA. Rydell and Landau were co-artistic directors of The Actors Studio West. Rydell and Sydney Pollack formed Sanford Productions in 1971, which produced the film "Jeremiah Johnson" starring Robert Redford and the film "Scarecrow" with Al Pacino and Gene Hackman, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Rydell once stated that "All great art rests on telling the truth" and that "The real pursuit of an artist is to tell the truth." He is survived by his daughter Amy Rydell, son Christopher, and son Alexander. Amy Rydell and Christopher Rydell are from Mark Rydell's first marriage to actor Joanne Linville. Alexander Rydell is from Mark Rydell's second marriage to producer Esther Rydell.

Timeline

Mark Rydell was born Mortimer Harold Rydell on March 23, 1929, in New York City. Mark Rydell made his film acting debut in 1956 in Don Siegel’s "Crime In The Streets" opposite John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo. Mark Rydell made his feature-film directorial debut with the 1967 film "The Fox," starring Sandy Dennis.

Mark Rydell directed Steve McQueen in the 1969 film "The Reivers." Mark Rydell and Sydney Pollack formed Sanford Productions in 1971. Mark Rydell directed John Wayne in the 1972 film "The Cowboys." Mark Rydell directed James Caan and Marsha Mason in the 1973 film "Cinderella Liberty." Mark Rydell appeared in Robert Altman’s 1973 film "The Long Goodbye."

What's New

Later reporting confirmed that "Mark Rydell, the director or my first film, The Rose, died this morning." Additional details established that Mark Rydell served as an executive consultant on the ABC drama "Family from 1976 to 1980. It was also reported that Mark Rydell produced the 1991 film The Man in the Moon starring Sam Waterston. Further records showed that Mark Rydell appeared in the 2006 film Even Money. Later accounts noted that Mark Rydell directed an episode of the ABC series Masters of Science Fiction" in 2007.

Background information revealed that Mark Rydell worked as a jazz pianist in the 1950s to earn extra money. Additional award records confirmed that Jane Fonda received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "On Golden Pond." It was also confirmed that Katharine Hepburn won her fourth Academy Award for acting for her role in "On Golden Pond."

Why It Matters

Mark Rydell’s career spanned six decades, moving from acting to directing some of the most commercially and critically successful films of the 1970s and 1980s. His five Academy Award nominations for Best Director reflect a consistent recognition by the industry for his work with major stars such as Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Midler, and Steve McQueen. The financial success of "On Golden Pond," which grossed over $119 million, demonstrated his ability to connect with broad audiences while delivering award-winning performances.

His influence extended beyond directing, as he served as a teacher and mentor through roles at The Actors Studio West and UCLA workshops. His collaborations with actors like Bette Midler, who credited him with her Oscar nominations, were noted for his reputation as an "actor’s whisperer." The breadth of his work, from television episodes to feature films and producing, illustrates a versatile presence in American cinema and television production.