Mark L. Lester
Encyclopedia
Mark L. Lester is an American writer, producer, and director, primarily of action films.
After his debut in 1970 with the film Just Can't Reach, he went on to make his mark with such memorable drive-in fare as Truck Stop Women
and Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw
. In 1979, he jumped on the disco bandwagon with Roller Boogie
starring Linda Blair
, to modest success. He then made the exploitation thriller Class of 1984
, which was a source of controversy at the time of release, but has since gained cult status.
He entered the mainstream in 1984 with Stephen King
's Firestarter
and had his biggest hit in 1985 with Commando
, an Arnold Schwarzenegger
action film that grossed over $57 million worldwide. He also directed and produced his sole comedy, Armed & Dangerous starring Meg Ryan
and John Candy
in 1986. In 1989 he directed Class of 1999
, a loose sequel to Class of 1984
.
Mark Lester married Dana Dubovsky, who he now works with and had two children, Jason and Justin. He also founded American World Pictures, an independent production and distribution company. Recent films include The Base
, an action film; the thrillers Blowback
and Hitman's Run
; and for TV, Pterodactyl
(produced for the Sci Fi Channel
).
Other credits include Showdown in Little Tokyo
starring Dolph Lundgren
and Brandon Lee
, Night of the Running Man
, Extreme Justice
, and Stunts
.
After his debut in 1970 with the film Just Can't Reach, he went on to make his mark with such memorable drive-in fare as Truck Stop Women
Truck Stop Women
Truck Stop Women is a 1974 film, directed by Mark L. Lester and partly financed by Phil Gramm, about a mother and daughter who run a brothel for truckers on the New Mexico highways, and fight back when the Mafia tries to take over their operation. Claudia Jennings appears in this film and is naked...
and Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw
Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw
Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw is a 1976 film directed by Mark L. Lester. It stars Marjoe Gortner and Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter....
. In 1979, he jumped on the disco bandwagon with Roller Boogie
Roller Boogie
Roller Boogie is a United Artists film starring Linda Blair and introducing Jim Bray The film also stars Beverly Garland, Mark Goddard, and Kimberly Beck, and is directed by Mark L...
starring Linda Blair
Linda Blair
Linda Denise Blair is an American actress. Blair is best known for her role as the possessed child, Regan, in the 1973 film The Exorcist, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award and two Golden Globes, winning one. She reprised her role in 1977's Exorcist II: The Heretic.-Biography:Blair...
, to modest success. He then made the exploitation thriller Class of 1984
Class of 1984
Class of 1984 is a 1982 action-thriller movie about a newly hired music teacher at a troubled inner city school, where students have to pass through a metal detector due to problems with gangs, drugs, and violence. It was directed by Mark L...
, which was a source of controversy at the time of release, but has since gained cult status.
He entered the mainstream in 1984 with Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's Firestarter
Firestarter (film)
Firestarter is a 1984 science fiction thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The plot concerns a young girl who develops pyrokinesis and the secret government agency which seeks to control her. The film was directed by Mark L. Lester, and stars Drew Barrymore and David...
and had his biggest hit in 1985 with Commando
Commando (film)
Commando is a 1985 American action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vernon Wells, Rae Dawn Chong, Alyssa Milano, Bill Duke, Dan Hedaya and James Olson. It was directed by Mark L...
, an Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
action film that grossed over $57 million worldwide. He also directed and produced his sole comedy, Armed & Dangerous starring Meg Ryan
Meg Ryan
Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra , professionally known as Meg Ryan, is an American actress and producer. Raised in Bethel, Connecticut, Ryan began her acting career in 1981 in minor roles, before joining the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982...
and John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
in 1986. In 1989 he directed Class of 1999
Class of 1999
Class of 1999 is a 1990 science fiction film directed by Mark L. Lester. It is the director's follow-up to his 1982 film Class of 1984.-Synopsis:...
, a loose sequel to Class of 1984
Class of 1984
Class of 1984 is a 1982 action-thriller movie about a newly hired music teacher at a troubled inner city school, where students have to pass through a metal detector due to problems with gangs, drugs, and violence. It was directed by Mark L...
.
Mark Lester married Dana Dubovsky, who he now works with and had two children, Jason and Justin. He also founded American World Pictures, an independent production and distribution company. Recent films include The Base
The Base
The Base may refer to:* The Base * The Base , a major shopping complex in Hamilton, New Zealand* Al Qaeda...
, an action film; the thrillers Blowback
Blowback (film)
Blowback is a 2000 film directed by Mark L. Lester. It follows detective Morrell as he investigates whether a series of murders, identical to those by Wittman , executed years ago, are copycat or if they could be Wittman himself...
and Hitman's Run
Hitman's Run
Hitman's Run is a 1999 film directed by Mark L. Lester.-Plot:A former mob hitman, now in witness protection, is forced to come out of retirement when his family is threatened by his cohorts. He teams up with a skateboarding kid, who has a computer disk that the mob wants to get their hands on that...
; and for TV, Pterodactyl
Pterodactyl (film)
Pterodactyl is a 2005 horror film that premiered on the Sci Fi Channel. The film is directed by Mark L. Lester.-Plot:A team of American scientists and students of science are exploring the Turkish/Armenian border...
(produced for the Sci Fi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
).
Other credits include Showdown in Little Tokyo
Showdown in Little Tokyo
Showdown in Little Tokyo is a 1991 action film. It features Brandon Lee in his first American film role, starring alongside Dolph Lundgren. Set in Los Angeles, California, two police officers attempt to take down a new and deadly Japanese drug gang...
starring Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren is a Swedish actor, director, and martial artist. He belongs to a generation of film actors who epitomise the movie action hero stereotype including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme.A graduate in chemical...
and Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee
Brandon Bruce Lee was an American actor and martial artist. He was the son of martial arts film star Bruce Lee...
, Night of the Running Man
Night of the Running Man
Night of the Running Man is a 1995 American crime thriller film produced by Trimark Pictures and American World Pictures starring Andrew McCarthy and Scott Glenn. It is based on the 1981 novel by Lee Wells, who also wrote the screenplay for the film...
, Extreme Justice
Extreme Justice
Extreme Justice was a monthly Justice League spin off title in the DC Comics universe. It replaced the cancelled Justice League International and ran for nineteen issues from 1994 to 1996.-Overview:...
, and Stunts
Stunts (film)
-Plot:After a stuntman dies his brother takes his place in order to find out what really happened.-Cast:* Robert Forster as Glen Wilson* Fiona Lewis as B.J. Parswell* Ray Sharkey as Paul Salerno* Joanna Cassidy as Patti Johnson* Bruce Glover as Chuck Johnson...
.
Selected Filmography
- Just Can't Reach (1970)
- Twilight of the Mayas (1971)
- Steel ArenaSteel ArénaSteel Aréna – Košický štadión L. Trojáka is the new home arena of the ice hockey club HC Košice....
(1973) - Truck Stop WomenTruck Stop WomenTruck Stop Women is a 1974 film, directed by Mark L. Lester and partly financed by Phil Gramm, about a mother and daughter who run a brothel for truckers on the New Mexico highways, and fight back when the Mafia tries to take over their operation. Claudia Jennings appears in this film and is naked...
(1974) - Bobbie Jo and the OutlawBobbie Jo and the OutlawBobbie Jo and the Outlaw is a 1976 film directed by Mark L. Lester. It stars Marjoe Gortner and Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter....
(1976) - StuntsStunts (film)-Plot:After a stuntman dies his brother takes his place in order to find out what really happened.-Cast:* Robert Forster as Glen Wilson* Fiona Lewis as B.J. Parswell* Ray Sharkey as Paul Salerno* Joanna Cassidy as Patti Johnson* Bruce Glover as Chuck Johnson...
(1977) - Gold of the Amazon Women (1979) (TV)
- Roller BoogieRoller BoogieRoller Boogie is a United Artists film starring Linda Blair and introducing Jim Bray The film also stars Beverly Garland, Mark Goddard, and Kimberly Beck, and is directed by Mark L...
(1979) - Class of 1984Class of 1984Class of 1984 is a 1982 action-thriller movie about a newly hired music teacher at a troubled inner city school, where students have to pass through a metal detector due to problems with gangs, drugs, and violence. It was directed by Mark L...
(1982) - FirestarterFirestarter (film)Firestarter is a 1984 science fiction thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The plot concerns a young girl who develops pyrokinesis and the secret government agency which seeks to control her. The film was directed by Mark L. Lester, and stars Drew Barrymore and David...
(1984) - CommandoCommando (film)Commando is a 1985 American action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vernon Wells, Rae Dawn Chong, Alyssa Milano, Bill Duke, Dan Hedaya and James Olson. It was directed by Mark L...
(1985) - Armed & Dangerous (1986)
- Class of 1999Class of 1999Class of 1999 is a 1990 science fiction film directed by Mark L. Lester. It is the director's follow-up to his 1982 film Class of 1984.-Synopsis:...
(1990) - Showdown in Little TokyoShowdown in Little TokyoShowdown in Little Tokyo is a 1991 action film. It features Brandon Lee in his first American film role, starring alongside Dolph Lundgren. Set in Los Angeles, California, two police officers attempt to take down a new and deadly Japanese drug gang...
(1991) - Extreme JusticeExtreme Justice (film)Extreme Justice is a 1993 action-thriller film. The film was directed by Mark L. Lester, and stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Scott Glenn, and Chelsea Field.-Plot:After an incident where he used questionable police tactics, Jeff Powers is placed on probation...
(1993) - Night of the Running ManNight of the Running ManNight of the Running Man is a 1995 American crime thriller film produced by Trimark Pictures and American World Pictures starring Andrew McCarthy and Scott Glenn. It is based on the 1981 novel by Lee Wells, who also wrote the screenplay for the film...
(1995)