William Richert, screenwriter and director of the film “Killing Winter”, has died at the age of 79.

William Richert, Writer and Director Behind Jeff Bridges’ Great Conspiracy Thriller winter kills s A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, which gave River Phoenix his first leading role, has died. He was 79 years old.

Richert died Tuesday at his home in Portland, Oregon, said his wife, Gretchen. the hollywood reporter. He did not reveal the cause of death, but said he chose to use the Oregon Death with Dignity Act.

Richert’s resume also listed co-author happy whore (1975), starring Lynn Redgrave as the famous Madame Javiera Hollander, and some films directed by Ivan Passer: law and disorder (1974), starring Carol O’Connor and Ernest Borgnine and crime and passion (1976), starring Omar Sharif and Karen Black.

Black comedy about the John F. Kennedy assassination mystery. winter kills (1979) featured Bridges in an all-star cast that also included John Huston, Elizabeth Taylor, Eli Wallach, Toshiro Mifune, Dorothy Malone, and Anthony Perkins.

When budget problems forced $6 million winter kills Leaving the production a few weeks after its completion and bankruptcy, Richert co-wrote and directed successful american company And he used the money from that to finish the movie two years later.

successful american companyMade in Germany and also with Bridges, it was released in 1980.

When he was 19, Richert wrote a novel, Won’t you kiss me goodbye?which was published in 1966. He adapted his book into a 1960s drama. A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988).

Richert then played Bob Pidgeon, who mentors a gang of street kids who live in an abandoned apartment building, opposite Phoenix and Keanu Reeves in Gus Van Sant. my personal idaho (1991).

Also appeared on the screen. law and disorder and Joel Schumacher Client (1994).

Richert, born in Florida in 1942, had a nomadic childhood, attending high school in his 20s while his parents took him and his siblings across the country.

He came to Hollywood in the early 1960s and got a job as a press agent for ABC. Steve Allen’s New ShowHe then worked on documentaries about presidents’ daughters (never came out), Roller Derby (1970). derby) and two young lovers studying at the School of American Ballet (1972). first position).

for that winter killsRichert adapted the 1974 novel by Richard Condon, who also wrote Manchurian candidate s the value of the prize. leonardo j. Goldberg and Robert Sterling, a wealthy marijuana dealer, executive produced the independent film, which was filmed primarily at MGM.

“Part of the book is about how your father prepared this president to take office, how things were done and what strange things he did,” Richert said in a 2003 documentary. Who killed the winter kills. “He had a lot to say about strong people in code. … It almost had to be financed by gangsters, by strangers, and it was.”

A month after the film’s release, which was shut down three times, Goldberg was found handcuffed and shot in his Manhattan apartment by “someone he owed money to,” Richert says in the document. Years later, Sterling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for smuggling marijuana.

On this New York Times Review Janet Maslin wrote this winter kills “It’s not exactly a comedy, but it’s fun. And it’s not exactly serious, but it takes a lot of work to assassinate Kennedy. That’s why other ads for the movie compare it Doctor Strange s MIXTURE.

“It’s not social satire, it’s more like a spring fever movie. It doesn’t make any sense, but it’s fast, engaging and fun, full of crazy vitality.”

In 1980, Richert and former studio executive Claire Townsend launched Invisible Studio, which was relaunched. american success story and a reprinted version winter kills.

Richert has also served as a writer, director and actor. Face of Alexandre Dumas: The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) and starred in and directed an episode of the 1995 ABC series marshalWith Jeff Fahey.

Richert claimed that Aaron Sorkin wrote president of america It was largely based on the version he wrote, but the WGA and the courts disagreed. He also sued the WGA and DGA for mishandling funds raised from foreign income.

In addition to his wife, survivors include his son Nick and a grandson.