WOODLAND HILLS—On August 14, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) announced the death of longtime member Mark Rydell. He joined the guild in 1963, serving on the National Board 1987-1991. The Oscar-nominated director died on August 13 at 97 at an entertainment industry retirement community in Woodland Hills.

Rydell, who was born in New York in 1929 started directing in the 1960s, with “Ben Casey,” “I Spy” and “The Fugitive,” before directing, his talent was music. His given name by his parents Sidney and Evelyn was Mortimer. He later changed his first name to Mark.

He trained under the legendary pianist, Teddy Wilson at the Juilliard School of Music. During the 1967 Western Heritage Awards, Rydell was awarded the Bronze Rangler award in the category of Fictional Television Drama for his directing in the classic television show, “Gunsmoke” with the episode, ‘Death Watch.’

In 1967, he debuted on the big screen with “The Fox,” and “The Reivers” and “The Cowboys.” He TV work included “Crime of the Century.”

Rydell received a nomination from DGA in 1981 for “On Golden Pond.” In 2001, he was nominated by the DGA for the Television and Mini-Series category for “James Dean.”

In an interview with journalist, Cynthia Robins of the San Francisco Chronicle Rydell stated:

“I’m attracted to material that is substantial enough to deal with life and death issues. I don’t like to waste my time with trivia.”

Bette Midler, who earned Best Actress Oscar nominations while working with Rydell in “The Rose” in 1979. They also worked on “For the Boys” in 1991.

“He was an actor of note before he became a director, and I was so lucky to have him when I did. He taught me so much on The Rose and later-on For the Boys. Two Oscars nominations, both because of him. He was an actor’s whisperer; just a few words was all it took, to understand what was needed. Devoted to Meisner. So many happy memories. RIP,” said Bette Midler