Richard Franklin (director)
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| Richard Franklin | |||||||
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| Born | July 15, 1948 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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| Died | July 11, 2007 (aged 58) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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| Years active | 1975 - 2003 | ||||||
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Richard Franklin (15 July 1948 – 11 July 2007) was an Australian-born film director.[1]
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[edit] Early life and career
Franklin was born and grew up in Brighton, Melbourne[2] and was educated at the prestigious Haileybury College. In the 1960s, Franklin was the drummer in the Melbourne band The Pink Finks, which also featured Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford, later of Daddy Cool. The band released several singles none of which had any significant chart success.[3]
Franklin later studied film at The University of Southern California alongside other notable directors George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis and John Carpenter. He invited Alfred Hitchcock to give a lecture at his university and subsequently became good friends with him.[1]
[edit] Directing career
In the 1970s Franklin became a successful feature film director; his Australian directing credits include The True Story of Eskimo Nell, Fantasm, Roadgames and Patrick. Roadgames starring Jamie Lee Curtis was the most expensive Australian movie ever made at the time of its release in 1981.[1]
After moving to Hollywood he directed Psycho II, Cloak & Dagger, Link and FX2: The Deadly Art Of Illusion.
He later returned to Australia where he filmed Hotel Sorrento and Brilliant Lies in the 1990s.[1]
Franklin's most recent film, Visitors, was shot in 2003.[4] He lectured at Swinburne School of Film and Television in Australia until his death.
Franklin died of prostate cancer on 11 July 2007, four days before his 59th birthday.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e George, Sandy. "Australian thriller director dies", The Australian, 2007-07-13.
- ^ McFarlane, Brian. "A passionate, witty, precise filmmaker" (obituary), The Age, 2007-07-20.
- ^ The Pink Finks. MILESAGO: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964-1975.
- ^ "Richard Franklin: Visitors". Julie Rigg. The Deep End. ABC Radio National. 2003-11-26.
