RIP Richard C. Sarafian

Vanishing Point director Richard C. Sarafian died today in Santa Monica of complications from pneumonia. He was 83. The New York City-born Sarafian had suffered a fall recently where he broke several ribs and back. He contracted the infection while recovering from that incident. Sarafian’s helming of the iconic 1971 car pic was an inspiration to Quentin Tarantino, who gave the director a Special Thanks in the credits of 2007’s car-themed Death Proof. The director was also behind the camera on a number of episodes of TV shows like Batman, I Spy, 77 Sunset Strip and Gunsmoke as well. His last directing job was a 1990 episode of Zorro: The Legend Continues. Sarafian was a presence in front of the camera too. Among his various acting jobs, his good friend Warren Beatty cast him in both Bullworth and Bugsy. Sarafian also was the director on the 1971 Euro-western "Man in the Wilderness" starring Richard Harris.