Filmmaker eric karson, director of octagon and producer of lionheart, dies at 86

Death and career beginnings

Eric Karson died Aug. 24 at 86, his brother Gil Karson told The Hollywood Reporter. He died of natural causes while in hospice care in Henderson, Nevada. The son of television writer Lee Karson and theater actress Mary, Eric was one of four children. He graduated from Cal State Northridge, started as an actor and directed commercials and documentaries in Australia before returning to Los Angeles.

Back in Los Angeles, he made commercials for The Peterson Co. and became a vice president there. His opportunity to direct a feature came while he worked for American Cinema Productions.

Breakthrough with The Octagon

Karson made his feature directorial debut with The Octagon in 1980. Written by Leigh Chapman, the film starred Chuck Norris as Scott James, a retired karate champion confronting assassins led by his estranged foster brother, played by Tadashi Yamashita.

The film arrived as interest in ninja movies was growing. Karson later directed the action film Opposing Force, starring Lisa Eichhorn and Tom Skerritt.

Van Damme and Gruner films

At Imperial Entertainment, Karson directed Jean-Claude Van Damme in Black Eagle in 1988. He later produced Lionheart, directed by Sheldon Lettich, with Van Damme starring as Lyon Gaultier, a French Foreign Legion deserter who becomes a street fighter to help his murdered brother’s family.

Karson directed Olivier Gruner’s first film, Angel Town, in 1990, and produced Gruner’s second, Nemesis, in 1992. Gruner regarded Karson as a mentor. Karson also appeared as a CIA chief in Black Eagle and a doctor in Lionheart.

Family and survivors

Karson was born in Phoenix on March 5, 1940. His father created The Gale Storm Show, which aired from 1956 to 1959, and wrote for programs including The Restless Gun, Wagon Train and The Detectives.