Director John Avildsen dies at 81; won Oscar for 'Rocky'

John G. Avildsen, who directed "Rocky" and "The Karate Kid" — two dark-horse, underdog favorites that went on to become Hollywood franchises — died Friday at age 81.Anthony Avildsen said his father died Friday in Los Angeles from pancreatic cancer."Rocky" was a huge success. It won Oscars for best picture, director (Avildsen) and editing and was nominated for seven others. No less a Hollywood eminence than Frank Capra loved it, telling The New York Times in 1977, "When I saw it, I sa