Alongside the so-called “movie brats” – Francis Ford Coppola, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg – who rode the crest of the American new wave in the late 1960s and early 70s, were other figures less readily assimilated into the mainstream. Of these, few were as influential as Bob Rafelson, the writer-producer-director, who has died aged 89 after suffering from lung cancer.
He was characterised by a counter-cultural sensibility and an eye for fruitful collaborations, notably with the actor-writer-director Jack Nicholson and the producer Bert Schneider. He also co-created the Monkees (both the pop group and the hit TV series) and co-founded the influential independent production company and creative collective BBS, which brought together actors and directors including Nicholson, Peter Bogdanovich and Dennis Hopper.
