Bob Rafelson, Co-Creator Of 'The Monkees' And Producer Of 'Easy Rider,' Has Passed Away At Age 89
Bob Rafelson, filmmaker famous for Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, and The Monkees television show, passed away on July 23rd at the age of 89. He was known as one of the founding figures of the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s and was a pioneering force for independent films.
His career began in 1959 as a story editor on the show Play of the Week. He and his family moved to Hollywood in 1962 when he began working as an associate producer for Universal Pictures, Screen Gems, Desilu Productions, and Revue Productions.
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The 1966 television series The Monkees is perhaps one of Rafelson's best-remembered productions. After Rafelson founded Raybert Productions with Bert Schneider in 1965, they soon began work on the psychedelic show inspired by The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night. The television series focuses on the misadventures of a struggling garage band looking for their big break. The Monkees was a colorful and fast-paced series that embodied the rebellious nature of a younger generation. Though the series only lasted two seasons, it became a pop-culture phenomenon and brought Rafelson and Schneider an Emmy for outstanding comedy series in 1967. The band that spawned from the series would later find success with hits such as “Daydream Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville,” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday.” Micky Dolenz, the last surviving member of The Monkees, paid tribute to Rafelson on Twitter:
Rafelson will be remembered as a powerhouse visionary in film. He is survived by his wife Gabrielle, his sons Ethan and Harper, daughter-in-law Karen, and a nephew.
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Source(s): The Hollywood Reporter