Richard Donner

Richard Donner – 41st Annual AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Mel Brooks – Arrivals – Dolby Theatre – Hollywood, CA, USA, 2013 – Photo Credit: Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Birth Name: Richard Donald Schwartzberg

Date of Birth: April 24, 1930

Place of Birth: The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: July 5, 2021

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Richard Donner was an American television and film director and producer. He directed Superman (1978), Lethal Weapon, The Goonies, Ladyhawke, and The Omen, among many other hit films.

Richard was the son of Hattie (Horowitz) and Fred M. Schwartzberg. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant. His mother was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents. He was a cousin of actor Steve Kahan. His grandfather owned a movie theatre in Brooklyn. Richard was raised in Mount Vernon, New York.

He was married to film producer Lauren Shuler Donner, until his death. The two merged their production companies into Shuler-Donner Productions, later The Donners’ Company.

Richard’s paternal grandfather was named Harry Schwartzberg.

Richard’s paternal grandmother was named Minnie.

Richard’s maternal grandfather was surnamed Horowitz.

Richard’s maternal grandmother was surnamed Epstein.

Sources: Richard Donner on the 1940 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org

Richard’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org

Death record of Richard’s mother – http://www.familysearch.org