R. I. P. Richard Fleischer.

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Super Moderator
Nov 27, 1999
65,400
407
126
LOS ANGELES -- The director of such Hollywood hits as "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," "The Boston Strangler" and "Tora! Tora! Tora!" has died.

Richard Fleischer was 89.

His son said Fleischer died early Saturday of natural causes at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Fleischer hailed from a family of animated cartoon creators who came up with such characters as Betty Boop and Popeye the Sailor.

But Richard Fleischer opted for live-action movies. He never achieved the recognition of his more flamboyant contemporaries. But Fleischer's name was on a wide variety of well-known films including "Doctor Dolittle," "Soylent Green" and two movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Conan the Destroyer" and "Red Sonja."

In a statement, Schwarzenegger, now the governor of California, called Fleischer "a man of great talent and an extraordinary director."

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'20,000 Leagues' Director Dead At 89 :(
rose.gif