Bob Rafelson, 'The Monkees' co-creator and ‘Five Easy Pieces’ director, dead at 89
foxnews.comBob Rafelson, the director, producer and writer who brought a European sensibility to American filmmaking with "Five Easy Pieces" in 1970, died Saturday evening at his home in Aspen, Colorado.
He was 89 years old. Rafelson’s death was confirmed by his former personal assistant of 38 years, Jolene Wolff, who worked under Rafelson’s production banner Marmont Productions.
Wolff stated that Rafelson died peacefully, surrounded by his family. The Monkees vocalist and drummer Micky Dolenz, the final surviving member of the music group, offered a statement on Rafelson’s death Sunday afternoon. "One day in the spring of 1966, I cut my classes in architecture at L.A.Trade Tech to take an audition for a new TV show called ‘The Monkees.’ The co-creator/producer of the show was Bob Rafelson," Dolenz said. "At first, I mistook him for another actor there for the audition.
Needless-to-say, I got the part and it completely altered my life. Regrettably, Bob passed away last night but I did get a chance to send him a message telling him how eternally grateful I was that he saw something in me.Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my friend." Bob Rafelson passed away on Saturday at his Aspen, Colorado, home. (George Rose/Getty Images) Rafelson partnered with Bert Schneider, who died in 2011, to form the production company Raybert, which later became BBS.
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