Roger Corman’s death has been confirmed by his family, as the film legend dies at his home in Santa Monica, California.
The legendary B-movie king who discovered some of Hollywood’s greatest stars, such as Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro and film director Martin Scorsese has died.
The 98-year-old’s death came at his home on Thursday, with Roger Corman being surrounded by his family.
They said in a statement: “His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, and captured the spirit of an age. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ‘I was a filmmaker, just that.”
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The star directed and produced hundreds of low-budget films, specializing in fast-paced movies in horror, science fiction, action and family fare.
His empire existed in New World Pictures and Concorde/New Horizons, with Corman’s work being as profitable as any big studio in Tinsel Town.
Many future talents found their start with him, including Nicholson and Deniro, as well as director Francis Ford Copola of The Godfather series and Scorsese.
In 2009, years before Roger Corman’s death, he was awarded an Oscar at the AMPAS’ first Governors Awards Ceremony. He was saluted by Ron Howard for hiring women in executive and creative jobs and giving them big film roles.
Walter Moseley said he offered ‘one of the few open doors’ for talent, with age, race and gender not being a factor.
Howard joked he complained to the celebrity about working with a small budget when he directed his firms film, Eat My Dust. Having sparse extras for a scene which included a crowd, he struggled. But Corman told him: “If you do a good job on this film, you won’t ever have to work for me again!”
Quentin Tarantino toasted the filmmaker, with “the movie lovers of planet Earth thank you”.
Whereas Jonathan Demme praised his talent in front of the camera, saying he gave “tremendous value at a really affordable price”.
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Roger Corman – life and legacy before his death
Roger Corman’s death comes with a legacy left behind, reawakening the B-movie market which was at risk of vanishing forever following the rise of television.
Born in Detroit, he moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1940. Corman attended Beverly Hills High School and Stanford University where he studied engineering. But he was mesmerized by films since an early age when he moved to California.
He once said: “There was no way I couldn’t be interested in movies, growing up where I did”.
He fought in World War II and studied English Literature for a term at Oxford University in the UK. Corman then started his long career in Hollywood by working as a messenger at 20th Century Fox. But when he returned from Oxford he struggled, doing odd jobs and collecting unemployment.
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When he worked as a script reader briefly he felt he could do a better job so wrote ‘Highway Dragnet’ and sold it for $4,000 to Allied Artists.
Corman went on to produce The Monster From the Ocean Floor, before making a series of movies for Arkoff’s AIP. Between 1955 and 1960 he produced and directed more than 30 films, with a small budget of $100,00, and they were completed in two weeks or less.
From Westerns to science fiction, he became the hero of the drive-ins.
It was Machine Gun Kelly in 1958 that had him recognized, and Jack Nicholson made his star with Little Shop of Horrors two years later. This was when he asked Arkoff for more ambitious projects, based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
He gave some of Hollywood’s biggest stars their big break, when they were unknown actors, directors and screenwriters. De Niro, Ellen Burstyn and Joe Dante were among his list.
Corman did want to produce a film with a strong ‘message’, about racism, with William Shatner on the bill, called The Intruder. However, it was denied the Production Code Seal as it used a racial slur. Due to bookings being few, he didn’t want to try it again.
He told the New York Times: “I decided then and there I would never again make a movie that would be so obviously a personal statement”.
He briefly left the director’s chair in the late 1960s, to return again two decades later and formed New World Pictures. The studio imported foreign art films and filled a gap in the market others failed to do.
Tributes pour in
Actors and stars across the world have paid tribute to the legend after his death.
John Carpenter said: “Roger Corman, one of the most influential movie directors in my life, has passed away. It was my privilege to know him. He was a great friend. He shaped my childhood with science fiction movies and Edgar Allen Poe epics. I’ll miss you, Roger.”
Ron Howard added after his death: “RIP Roger Corman. A great movie maker and mentor. When I was 23 he gave me my 1st shot at directing. He launched many careers & quietly lead our industry in important ways.
“He remained sharp, interested and active even at 98. Grateful to have known him.”
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Courtney Howard said: “Roger Corman was an iconic, innovative filmmaker, all-around nice guy & captivating storyteller who gave Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard & James Cameron (and many more!) their starts.
“Plus, He and Joe Dante revolutionized how movie trailers were cut.”
One user penned: “Farewell to the great Roger Corman, whose body of work is beyond massive, and whose influence on the genre is literally immeasurable. Our condolences to his friends, family and many fans. Thanks for everything, sir.”
While another wrote after news of his death: “RIP to one of cinema’s most outstanding artists; the legendary film director, producer, and actor Roger Corman.”
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