Richard Donner, the prolific director behind "Superman," "The Goonies" and "Lethal Weapon," died Monday. He was 91.
His wife, the film producer Lauren Shuler Donner told Deadline about the news, though she did not reveal the reason for his death.
Donner started his directorial career in the early 1960s. He directed the TV series "The Twilight Zone" and "The Man from Uncle."
However, it was not until the mid-1970s that he received his most significant break. Donner started to make a big name in Hollywood when he helmed the 1976 movie "The Omen."
He later produced "Free Willy" and "The Lost Boys," The Guardian noted. His work on the 1978 film "Superman," featuring the late Christopher Reeve, is highly-regarded as the "first modern superhero movie."
Come 1985, Donner directed and produced "The Goonies," which turned out to be a cult classic.
Steven Spielberg, who wrote the "The Goonies" story, honored his fellow director. He told Variety Donner was "gifted across so many genres."
"Being in his circle was akin to hanging out with your favorite coach, smartest professor, fiercest motivator, most endearing friend, staunchest ally and - of course - the greatest Goonie of all," he said
He described him as someone who was "all kid and all heart all the time" and he could not believe he was now gone. But for Spielberg, Donner's husky and hearty laugh would always stay with him.
In addition, Danny Glover, who worked with Donner on the "Lethal Weapon" movie series, also paid his respect to Donner.
He said his heart was broken after hearing the news. He then remembered that working with him, Mel Gibson and the rest of their movie's team was one of his career's proudest moments.
He added he would be forever grateful to Donner for that experience.
Lastly, Gibson celebrated the life of the occasional comic-book writer. He called Donner the "magnanimous of heart and soul" that he freely gave to everyone who knew him.
He said that if they would pile up everything good Donner did, it would eventually reach the heavens.
"I will sorely miss him, with all his mischievous wit and wisdom," he said.
Donner and Gibson also worked on the 1997 "Conspiracy Theory."
Other famous films Donner directed are "Assassins" with Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas and "Ladyhawke" with Michelle Pfeiffer.
