Bob Rafelson

Robert Jay Rafelson (February 21, 1933 - July 23, 2022), universally known as Bob Rafelson, was an iconic American film director, writer, and producer. He's widely recognized as a key figure in the New Hollywood movement in the 70s. Known best for his notable films such as 'Five Easy Pieces' (1970) and 'The King of Marvin Gardens' (1972), produced through the company he co-founded, Raybert/BBS Productions, Rafelson's work held significant influence in the film industry. His later movies, including 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' (1981) and 'Mountains of the Moon' (1990), received critical praise. Rafelson also produced pivotal films such as 'Easy Rider' (1969) and 'The Last Picture Show' (1971) associated with Raybert/BBS. These three films, including 'Five Easy Pieces', are included in the Library of Congress'. National Film Registry. Rafelson was also instrumental in the creation of the pop group and TV series The Monkees with his BBS partner, Bert Schneider. He was initially married to Toby Carr Rafelson, the lauded production designer. Rafelson was born on February 21, 1933, in Manhattan, to a Jewish family. As a teenager, Rafelson lead an adventurous life, which includes riding in a rodeo in Arizona and playing in a jazz band in Acapulco. His career started as a storyteller for a television series, and he eventually moved to Hollywood to produce TV shows and films. His work on the popular series 'Monkees' won him an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Rafelson then went into film making, with his debut being the fragmented film 'Head'. His rich filmography includes other critically acclaimed works like 'Black Widow' and 'Mountains of the Moon', that focused on idiosyncratic characters and authentic dialogue.