Filmmaker Rod Daniel, best known for directing Michael J. Fox in the 1985 fantasy-comedy Teen Wolf, died April 16 in Riverside, Illinois. He was 73. His passing was announced in a death notice in the Chicago Tribune.
Daniel made his feature debut on Teen Wolf, a comedy centered around a high school student who turns into werewolf. The low-budget film, which cost just $1.2m to make, grossed $33 million at the box office (about $81 million adjusted for inflation). A sequel was later developed, as well as cartoon spin-off, and an MTV series.
Daniel also directed the 1987 comedy Like Father Like Son, starring Dudley Moore and Kirk Cameron, followed by K-9 in 1989, with James Belushi and a german shepherd. His 1991 comedy The Super starred Joe Pesci and his final theatrically released was the 1993 doggy-themed comedy sequel Beethoven’s 2nd.
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Daniel served in the Vietnam War. He is survived by his wife, Marti; children John and Lucas; and grandson Ethan.
