According to media reports, director, producer, and writer Bob Rafelson has died at his home in Aspen, Colorado. He was 89.
Rafelson, director of “Five Easy Pieces” in 1970, helped produce “Easy Rider” in 1969 and “The Last Picture Show” in 1971.
His death was confirmed by his personal assistant, Jolene Wolff, who worked for Rafelson’s production company, Marmont Productions, and told Variety he died Saturday peacefully, surrounded by family.
Jack Nicholson starred as Bobby Dupea in “Five Easy Pieces.” It was nominated for four Oscars, including best picture.
Rafelson also directed “The King of Marvin Gardens” in 1972 and “Stay Hungry” in 1976.
He is credited with creating “The Monkees,” a fabricated rock group in a TV series. It was a product of a movie called “Head” which Rafelson co-wrote and directed starring Nicholson. “The Monkees” ran on TV from 1966-68, and Rafelson won an Emmy award for comedy series for the show in 1967.
