RIP Ted Kotcheff

 

Canadian director Ted Kotcheff died on April 11^th four days after turning 94. Born Velichko Todorov Tsochev in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on April 7, 1931, Ted studied and received an English degree at the University of Toronto before joining the Canadia Broadcasting Company in 1952 where he directed drama programs. He then relocated to London in 1957. Here he worked in the theater and television, receiving several awards. He returned to Canada and then the United States. Many of Kotcheff's movies have been comedic and have met with much success at the box office including “Fun with Dick and Jane” (1977), “Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?” (1978), “Switching Channels” (1988), and both “Weekend at Bernie's” movies (1989 and 1993). He also directed Sylvester Stallone's first Rambo movie, “First Blood”, in 1982. Ted directed one Euro-western, “Billy Two Hats” in 1973 with Gregory Peck and Desi Arnaz Jr.