George Armitage, 'Grosse Pointe Blank' Director, Dies at 83
George Armitage, the filmmaker behind "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "Miami Blues," passed away on Saturday at the age of 83. The news was confirmed by his son, Brent.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Armitage began his career in the mailroom at 20th Century Fox before becoming an associate producer on the long-running series "Peyton Place" in the 1960s.
Through a chance encounter with Roger Corman, Armitage transitioned into feature films. He penned the 1970 comedy "Gas! – Or – It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It," produced by Corman.
Armitage continued collaborating with Corman and his brother Gene Corman, eventually taking on the director's mantle with "Private Duty Nurses." He also directed the 1972 Blaxploitation film "Hit Man," starring Pam Grier and Bernie Casey, followed by "Vigilante Force" with Kris Kristofferson and Jan-Michael Vincent.
In 1990, Armitage achieved critical acclaim with the comedic thriller "Miami Blues," based on a novel by Charles Willeford. The film, starring Alec Baldwin and Fred Ward, featured a notable performance by Jennifer Jason-Leigh.
Armitage earned an Emmy nomination for co-writing the 1996 TV movie "The Late Shift," a dramatization of the rivalry between David Letterman and Jay Leno for Johnny Carson's successor.
His directorial breakout came with the 1997 comedy "Grosse Pointe Blank," a satirical take on high school reunions starring Dan Aykroyd, John Cusack, and Minnie Driver.
Armitage's final directorial credit was the 2004 crime film "The Big Bounce," adapted from a novel by Elmore Leonard and featuring Owen Wilson and Morgan Freeman.
Throughout his career, Armitage was an active member of the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon, son Brent, a writer and producer, and grandchildren Caroline and Nick.