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Richard Compton

Highest Rated: 56% Macon County Line (1974)

Lowest Rated: 56% Macon County Line (1974)

Birthday: Mar 2, 1938

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Not many Hollywood directors got their break working for the federal government, but Richard Compton was making propaganda films for the United States Information Agency years before releasing "Angels Die Hard" in 1970. The film flipped the script on the standard biker gang movies of its day, presenting them as heroes rather than thugs as they come to the rescue during a local mining disaster. Not only was this Compton's United States motion picture debut, but it was also the first picture released by New World Pictures, the production company founded by legendary filmmaker Roger Corman. Soon after, Compton wrote and directed his most noteworthy film, the gritty low-budget revenge flick "Macon County Line." The box office success of the project allowed him to put out a string of similar movies, including a pseudo-sequel, "Return to Macon County," though none matched the success or cult following of the original. Compton worked exclusively in television from the '80s until the end of his career, directing episodes of iconic series through several generations, such as the stylized cop drama "Miami Vice" and the science-fiction mystery "The X-Files."

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Highest rated movies

56% 55% Macon County Line
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Kojak: It's Always Something
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Desperado: Avalanche at Devil's Ridge
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Maniac
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Home for the Holidays
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70% Babylon 5
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Super Force
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Kojak: Fatal Flaw
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Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier
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Welcome Home, Soldier Boys
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Home for the Holidays Director - 2005
No Score Yet 70% Babylon 5 Director - 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Keys Director - 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kojak: It's Always Something Director - 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Super Force Director - 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier Director - 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kojak: Fatal Flaw Director - 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Desperado: Avalanche at Devil's Ridge Director - 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ravagers Director - 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Deadman's Curve Director - 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Maniac Director - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ransom Director - 1977
No Score Yet 57% Return to Macon County Director,
Screenwriter
- 1975
56% 55% Macon County Line Director,
Screenwriter
- 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Welcome Home, Soldier Boys Director - 1972
No Score Yet 40% Angels Die Hard Director,
Screenwriter
- 1970

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet JAG Director 2002 2005
74% 86% The X-Files Director 2000-2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Fugitive Director 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet The District Director 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet 7 Days Director 2000
No Score Yet 90% Charmed Director 1998-1999
No Score Yet 75% Sliders Director,
Producer
1996-1997 1999
No Score Yet 72% Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Director 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Sentinel Director 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Commish Director 1995
No Score Yet 92% Babylon 5 Director 1994
71% 89% Miami Vice Director 1987-1988 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Equalizer Director 1985-1988
92% 90% Star Trek: The Next Generation Director 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Houston Knights Director 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hotel Director 1985
No Score Yet 89% Street Hawk Director 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Otherworld Director 1985
80% 89% Star Trek Technical officer (Guest Star) 1967-1968