His daughter, Amy Rydell, confirmed that he died of natural causes on Thursday, August 13, at a care facility in Woodland Hills, California. She paid tribute to her father, describing him as an extraordinary person and one of the funniest and most talented people she had ever known.
Born Mortimer Rydell in New York in 1929, he later adopted the name Mark and studied at New York University, the University of Chicago and Juilliard. He also trained as an actor at the Neighborhood Playhouse under Sanford Meisner.
Rydell began his professional career as an actor and appeared in the television series "As the World Turns" in 1956. During his early years, he also became friends with actor James Dean and appeared with him in a television production in 1953.
In the 1960s, Rydell moved into television directing, working on several well-known series, including "I Spy," "The Wild Wild West," "The Fugitive" and "Gunsmoke."
He later became best known for his work in cinema, directing films such as "The Reivers" with Steve McQueen, "The Cowboys" with John Wayne, "Cinderella Liberty," "The Rose" starring Bette Midler, and "The River."
His most acclaimed film was "On Golden Pond," released in 1981 and starring Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda. The film earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including a Best Director nomination for Rydell.
Henry Fonda won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance, while Katharine Hepburn won Best Actress, marking her fourth victory in the category.
Rydell continued to work as both a director and actor throughout his career, leaving behind a significant legacy in American cinema and television.