Mark Rydell, a film director known for *On Golden Pond*, dies at age 97. Sources describe him as a director who earlier worked in front of the camera and later became known for eliciting nuanced performances from major actors.
The New York Times highlights his transition from acting to directing and says he coaxed sensitive work out of performers including Bette Midler, Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, and John Wayne. The Hollywood Reporter adds additional career context, noting Rydell’s earlier television work as an actor on the soap opera *As the World Turns* and listing other films he directed. Those include *Cinderella Liberty*, *The Rose*, and *The Cowboys*, which stars John Wayne.
Together, the outlets portray Rydell as an Oscar-nominated director with a varied background spanning acting and directing, and a filmography that includes multiple high-profile projects beyond *On Golden Pond*.
