A native of Cleveland, Ohio, the filmmaker launched his career with the 1970 documentary Twilight of the Mayas before quickly moving into low-budget B pictures aimed at drive-in audiences, such as Steel Arena, Truck Stop Women and Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw. He gained wider attention with the high-concept thriller Stunts (1977) and the disco-era musical Roller Boogie (1979), which, despite initial c…
