Ted Kotcheff, the Canadian filmmaker known for directing “First Blood” and “Weekend at Bernie’s,” passed away on April 10, 2025, in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. He was 94. His family confirmed the news to The Globe and Mail, with heart failure cited as the cause according to multiple sources.
Kotcheff was born on April 7, 1931, in Toronto, Ontario, to Bulgarian-Macedonian immigrant parents. Originally named Tsochev, he studied English literature at the University of Toronto before starting his career at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in the 1950s. At 24, he became the youngest director at the CBC, working on television dramas.
In search of wider opportunities, Kotcheff moved to London, England in the 1960s, where he directed television plays and theater productions. His first feature film as a director was the 1962 British comedy “Tiara Tahiti,” featuring James Mason.
Kotcheff’s career reached a turning point with the 1971 release of “Wake in Fright,” a gripping thriller set in the Australian outback. The film was critically acclaimed in Europe and is now regarded as a seminal work in Australian cinema, influencing many Australian filmmakers.
Back in Canada in 1972, Kotcheff directed “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz,” a 1974 adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s novel. The film, starring Richard Dreyfuss, gained international attention and won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
This success opened doors for Kotcheff in Hollywood, where he directed several popular films in various genres. His 1977 comedy “Fun With Dick and Jane,” starring Jane Fonda and George Segal, was a box office success, as was his 1979 sports drama “North Dallas Forty,” starring Nick Nolte.
Kotcheff’s most notable commercial success came in 1982 with “First Blood,” introducing audiences to Sylvester Stallone’s character John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran. Co-written by Stallone, the film elevated him to action star status and was the 13th highest-grossing film that year. It led to a franchise with four more films, the latest released in 2019.
In a 2014 interview with Variety, Kotcheff explained his filmmaking approach, citing Anton Chekhov: “I am not the judge of my characters, and that became part of my artistic credo. That’s how I approach all of my characters.”
After directing “Uncommon Valor” in 1983, a film about Vietnam featuring Gene Hackman, Kotcheff returned to comedy with “Weekend at Bernie’s” in 1989. Starring Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman, the film was another hit, leading to a sequel in 1993.
In his personal life, Kotcheff married twice. He first married British actress Sylvia Kay in 1960, with whom he had three children before divorcing in 1972. He later married Laifun Chun, who was also his producing partner on some projects. They had two children, Thomas and Alexandra.
Though he slowed down with theatrical films in the 1990s, Kotcheff found a new avenue in television. He joined the Dick Wolf-produced NBC series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” as an executive producer and director, remaining with the show for over 13 seasons.
Dick Wolf praised Kotcheff’s role in the series, noting his invaluable contributions as a producer, director, and friend.
Kotcheff’s work earned him numerous accolades. In 2011, the Directors Guild of Canada awarded him their Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014, he received the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute Award from the Canadian Screen Awards.
At the time of his passing, a documentary titled “The Apprenticeship of Ted Kotcheff,” narrated by Richard Dreyfuss, was in production to document his career and impact on cinema.
Kotcheff’s extensive filmography, crossing multiple countries and genres, demonstrates his adaptability and artistic vision. His work, from the impactful “First Blood” to the comedic “Weekend at Bernie’s,” showcases a director who embraced a variety of styles and themes.
