Bob Rafelson

Bob Rafelson was an American director, writer, and producer.

In 1962, Rafelson came to Hollywood and worked as an associate producer on such ABC shows as The Greatest Show on Earth, starring Jack Palance, and Channing.

Shortly after, he signed on as a producer for Screen Gems' NBC adaptation of The Wackiest Ship in the Army, and it was here that he met his first producing partner, Bert Schneider. The following year, they formed Raybert, and Screen Gems was sold on their idea for The Monkees.

Along with Schneider, Rafelson created The Monkees. He conceived the idea of a program that mimicked the exuberance of The Beatles, specifically the freewheeling energy of their 1964 film A Hard Day's Night.

In addition to guiding the sitcom as a producer and then executive producer, Rafelson directed several episodes. He also is credited with writing two of the shows that revolved around the group performing on tour.

Though it lasted only two seasons and 58 episodes, it became a pop-culture phenomenon and earned Rafelson and Schneider an Emmy in 1967 for outstanding comedy series.

After the series was canceled in 1968, Rafelson brought The Monkees to the big screen with Head (1968), his feature directing debut, as he and Schneider secured a five-picture deal with Columbia.

Rafelson collaborated with Jack Nicholson on seven features, including the classics Easy Rider (1969), Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972).

Rafelson's later directing efforts included Black Widow (1987), starring Debra Winger and Theresa Russell, the adventure tale Mountains of the Moon (1990), two more films starring Nicholson, Man Trouble (1992) and Blood and Wine (1997), and No Good Deed (2002).

In 1983, he helmed the music video for Lionel Richie's hit "All Night Long."

Rafelson died July 23, 2022 in Aspen, Colorado. He was 89.