Mark Rydell, Oscar-nominated director of ‘On Golden Pond,’ dies at 97

Oscar-nominated director Mark Rydell has passed away at the age of 97. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Amy Rydell, who stated he died of natural causes at a retirement community for entertainment professionals in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.

Rydell was highly regarded as an ‘actor’s director,’ known for eliciting powerful performances. He is most famous for directing the 1981 drama ‘On Golden Pond,’ which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director and led to Oscar wins for stars Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. The film also featured Jane Fonda, who received a supporting actress nomination.

Throughout his career, Rydell directed several other Academy Award-nominated films, including ‘The Fox,’ ‘The Reivers,’ ‘Cinderella Liberty,’ ‘The Rose,’ and ‘The River.’ He also had a notable career as an actor, appearing in television series such as ‘As the World Turns’ and films like ‘The Long Goodbye.’ Bette Midler, who worked with him on ‘The Rose’ and ‘For the Boys,’ paid tribute to him on social media, describing him as the ‘actor’s whisperer.’