View source for Albert Pyun

{{Short description|American film director (1953–2022)}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
|image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and "fair use" images, e.g. promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted - see [[WP:NONFREE]] -->
| name          = Albert Pyun
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1953|05|19}}
| birth_place   = [[Territory of Hawaii]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2022|11|26|1953|05|19}}
| death_place   = [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.
| othername     =
| yearsactive   = 1970–2018
| spouse        =
| occupation    = Film director
}}

'''Albert Pyun''' (May 19, 1953 – November 26, 2022) was an American film director who made low-budget [[B-movies]] and [[direct-to-video]] action films.

The [[Independent Film Channel]] said that Pyun "has carved out a unique niche as a director of low-budget, high-concept genre films starring actors past their prime", adding that "others believe this a charitable description for Pyun, who has also been derided as the new [[Ed Wood]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifc.com/fix/2010/06/albert-pyun |title=Albert Pyun's 'Tales' Stand Tall |first=Stephen |last=Saito |publisher=[[IFC (U.S. TV network)|IFC]] |date=June 22, 2010 |access-date=May 26, 2013 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033335/http://www.ifc.com/fix/2010/06/albert-pyun |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Though his films frequently blended [[kickboxing]] and [[hybrid martial arts]] with [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] and [[dystopic]] or [[post-apocalyptic]] themes, which often include [[cyborgs]], Pyun stated in a 2012 interview that "I have really no interest in cyborgs. And I've never really had any interest in post-apocalyptic stories or settings. It just seemed that those situations presented a way for me to make movies with very little money, and to explore ideas that I really wanted to explore — even if they were [controversial]."<ref name="io9.com">{{cite web |url=http://io9.com/5966375/incredibly-strange-and-ridiculously-cheap-albert-pyuns-30-year-b+movie-adventure |title=Incredibly Strange and Ridiculously Cheap: Albert Pyun's 30-Year Career in B-Movies |first=Charlie Jane |last=Anders |date=December 6, 2012 |work=[[io9]] |access-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226023720/http://io9.com/5966375/incredibly-strange-and-ridiculously-cheap-albert-pyuns-30-year-b+movie-adventure |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pyun's films include ''[[The Sword and the Sorcerer]]'', ''[[Cyborg (film)|Cyborg]]'', ''[[Captain America (1990 film)|Captain America]]'', and ''[[Nemesis (1992 film)|Nemesis]]''.<ref name="io9.com"/>

==Early life==

Pyun was born on May 19, 1953.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 17, 2012|title=Albert Pyun exclusive Interview|url=https://budomate.com/albert-pyun-exclusive-interview/|access-date=March 11, 2021|website=Budomate Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=June 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606055705/https://budomate.com/albert-pyun-exclusive-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Pyun was a "[[military brat]]" and lived on bases around the world until his father settled in Hawaii. He went to school in [[Kailua, Hawaii|Kailua]], a small town located on the windward side of [[Oahu]]. Pyun's first 8mm and 16mm movies were made in Kailua and he credits living in foreign countries and growing up in Hawaii as strong influences on his filmmaking style.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cultreviews.com/interviews/interview-with-albert-pyun/ |title=Interview with Albert Pyun |first=Marco |last=Freitas |date=August 8, 2011 |work=Cult Reviews |access-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009232849/http://www.cultreviews.com/interviews/interview-with-albert-pyun/ |archive-date=October 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> While in high school, Pyun worked at a number of production houses in Honolulu before receiving an invitation by the Japanese actor, [[Toshiro Mifune]], to travel to Japan for an internship.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Nicanor |last=Loreti |title=Charlamos con Albert Pyun: un cineasta unico |trans-title=Chatting with Albert Pyun: a unique filmmaker |journal=La Cosa Cine Fantástico |number=113 |date=July 2005 |issn=0329-5311 |pages=36–39 |url=http://www.filmwerks.com/la_cosa.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605021040/http://www.filmwerks.com/la_cosa.htm |archive-date=June 5, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fearzone.com/blog/albert-pyun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622065838/http://www.fearzone.com/blog/albert-pyun |title=Filmmaker Interview: Albert Pyun |first=Nicanor |last=Loreti |archive-date=June 22, 2013}}</ref> Initially Pyun was to intern on the [[Akira Kurosawa]] film, ''[[Dersu Uzala (1975 film)|Dersu Uzala]]'', which was to star Mifune.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediasaurs.blogspot.com/2010/02/bulletface-and-director-albert-pyun.html |title=Bulletface and director Albert Pyun – A Badass Interview |date=February 9, 2010 |work=Mediasaurs |access-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093215/http://mediasaurs.blogspot.com/2010/02/bulletface-and-director-albert-pyun.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but the actor decided not to do the film and instead Pyun found himself working on a Mifune TV series under the tutelage of Kurosawa's Director of Photography, [[Takao Saito (cinematographer)|Takao Saito]] (''[[Red Beard]]'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldheadpress.com/cult-people-photobook-115 |title=Cult People photobook |publisher=Headpress |access-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-date=August 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811122823/http://www.worldheadpress.com/cult-people-photobook-115 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pyun returned to Hawaii and began working as a commercial film editor at KGMB in Honolulu and edited commercials for agencies such as Bozell Jacobs and Leo Burnett. After several years as an editor, Pyun moved to Los Angeles to become a feature film director.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coolasscinema.com/2009/10/interview-with-sword-sorcerer-director.html |title=Interview With Albert Pyun |date=October 25, 2009 |work=Cool Ass Cinema |access-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-date=March 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322010448/http://www.coolasscinema.com/2009/10/interview-with-sword-sorcerer-director.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==1980s==
Pyun's first film ''The Sword and the Sorcerer'' remains his highest grossing, eventually earning $36,714,025 in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/series/SwordAndSorcerer.php |title=Sword & Sorcerer – Box Office History |work=The Numbers |publisher=Nash Information Services |access-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026103928/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/series/SwordAndSorcerer.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Opening on April 30, 1982, it grossed $4,100,886 which ranked the film second that week in America.<ref>{{mojo title |id=swordandthesorcerer |title=Sword and the Sorcerer}}</ref> [[Richard Lynch (actor)|Richard Lynch]] received the Best Supporting Actor [[Saturn Award]] for his performance as Cromwell.<ref name=saturn>{{cite web|title=Past Saturn Awards |url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html#fantasy |work=Saturn Awards |access-date=August 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511180136/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=May 11, 2008 }}</ref> During the production of the film, stuntman Jack Tyree was killed while doing a high fall stunt at [[Griffith Park]] in Los Angeles. While performing a 78-foot fall in heavy costume and makeup, Tyree struck his airbag off center, resulting in a fatal impact.<ref>{{cite news |quote=Movie stuntman Jack Tyree was killed in the filming of the scene on August 25, 1981, falling 180 feet and missing a large airbag by two feet. |title=Stuntman dies doing dive |newspaper=[[The Calgary Herald]] |date=August 27, 1981 |page=B-15}}</ref>

With the success of ''The Sword and the Sorcerer'', Pyun was attached to several science fiction projects in 1984 including ''Total Recall'', to be produced by [[Dino De Laurentiis]] at [[Universal Pictures]], with a screenplay based on the [[Philip K. Dick]] story written by [[Ronald Shusett]] (''Alien''). At the time, [[William Hurt]] was attached to star.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/incredibly-strange-and-ridiculously-cheap-albert-pyuns-5966375 |title=Incredibly Strange and Ridiculously Cheap: Albert Pyun's 30-Year Career in B-Movies |publisher=G/O Media |date=December 6, 2012 |access-date=August 20, 2019 |archive-date=August 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820131107/https://io9.gizmodo.com/incredibly-strange-and-ridiculously-cheap-albert-pyuns-5966375 |url-status=live }}</ref>

His second film, ''[[Radioactive Dreams]]'', was awarded the Golden Raven at the 5th [[Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival]] in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinemafantastique.be/Presentations-du-festival.html |title=Les Primés du BIFFF |trans-title=The BIFFF Prizes |publisher=Cinemafantastique.net |language=fr |access-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708005138/http://cinemafantastique.be/Presentations-du-festival.html |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "Radioactive Dreams" recently screened at [[Exhumed Films]]' 2013 eX Fest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinapse.co/2013/05/08/ex-fest-iii-revenge-gore-insanity-the-end-of-the-world-and-a-lot-of-fun/ |title=Ex-Fest III: Revenge, Gore, Insanity, the End of the World, and a Lot of Fun! |first=Liam |last=O'Donnell |date=May 8, 2013 |work=[[Cinapse]] |access-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-date=July 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730225948/http://cinapse.co/2013/05/08/ex-fest-iii-revenge-gore-insanity-the-end-of-the-world-and-a-lot-of-fun/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pyun's career took a more mainstream turn with the thriller ''[[Dangerously Close]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Patrick|title=Movie Review : Young Vigilantes In 'Dangerously Close'|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-05-09-ca-4148-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 9, 1986|access-date=July 9, 2011|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107131110/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-05-09/entertainment/ca-4148_1_sentinels|url-status=live}}</ref> and the romantic adventure film ''[[Down Twisted]]'', starring [[Carey Lowell]], [[Charles Rocket]] and [[Courteney Cox]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/57607-DOWN-TWISTED?cxt=filmography |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=catalog.afi.com |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203224312/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/57607-DOWN-TWISTED?cxt=filmography |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the late 1980s, Pyun made ''[[Alien from L.A.]]'', featuring supermodel [[Kathy Ireland]] whom he cast after seeing a photo of her without doing a screen test. Ireland then took [[Acting coach|acting lessons]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=February 5, 1988 |title=California actress balances careers |work=[[Tyler Morning Telegraph]] |agency=[[United Press International]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113732432/alien-from-la-albert-pyun/ |access-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127210125/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113732432/alien-from-la-albert-pyun/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film later appeared on an episode of ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 18, 1996 |title=Mystery Science Theater ends today |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113735935/mystery-science-theater-3000-ends/ |access-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127214438/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113735935/mystery-science-theater-3000-ends/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pyun's ''[[Cyborg (film)|Cyborg]]'' opened as the fourth-highest-grossing film in America on April 7, 1989.<ref name="cyborg">{{mojo title |id=cyborg |title=Cyborg (1989)}}</ref> It eventually grossed $10,166,459 in the United States.<ref name="cyborg" /> In 2011, twenty-two years after making ''Cyborg'', Pyun released his director's cut. A [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] re-release on Blu-ray followed in October 2012.

In 1989, Pyun made ''[[Deceit (1989 film)|Deceit]]'' and ''[[Captain America (1990 film)|Captain America]]''. A director's cut of ''Captain America'' was released in May 2011.<ref>{{cite news|first=Josh |last=Bell |title=Chatting with original 'Captain America' Director Albert Pyun |newspaper=[[Las Vegas Weekly]] |date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2011/jun/29/chatting-original-captain-america-director-albert-/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317005839/http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2011/jun/29/chatting-original-captain-america-director-albert-/ |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==1990s==
In the early 1990s, Pyun made ''[[Nemesis (1992 film)|Nemesis]]'' with [[Olivier Gruner]] and [[Thomas Jane]];<ref>{{mojo title |id=nemesis |title=Nemesis}}</ref> ''[[Brainsmasher... A Love Story]]'' followed in 1993 with [[Teri Hatcher]] and [[Andrew Dice Clay]]; and ''[[Mean Guns]]'' with [[Christopher Lambert]] and [[Ice-T]] in 1997.

In June 1991, Pyun's film ''[[Kickboxer 2]]'', written by [[David Goyer]] ([[Ghost Rider (2007 film)|''Ghost Rider'']], ''[[Blade (1998 film)|Blade]]'', ''[[The Dark Knight]]''), opened in theaters to mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite web|last=Valentin |first=Albert |url=http://www.kungfucinema.com/kickboxer-2-the-road-back-1990-10388 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090904220649/http://www.kungfucinema.com/kickboxer-2-the-road-back-1990-10388 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2009 |title=REVIEW: Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1990) |work=Kung Fu Cinema |date=September 1, 2009 }}</ref>

Other 1990s films include ''Knights'' with [[Kris Kristofferson]], [[Kathy Long]] and [[Lance Henriksen]]; ''[[Dollman (film)|Dollman]]'' starring Tim Thomerson as a 13-inch-tall [[Dirty Harry]]-type cop from another planet; ''[[Raven Hawk]]'' with [[Rachel McLish]] and [[William Atherton]]; ''Spitfire'' with Henriksen, [[Sarah Douglas (actress)|Sarah Douglas]], [[Tim Thomerson]] and [[Kristie Phillips]]; ''[[Hong Kong 97 (film)|Hong Kong '97]]'' with [[Robert Patrick]] and [[Ming-Na|Ming-Na Wen]]; ''[[Adrenalin: Fear the Rush]]'' with Christopher Lambert and Natasha Henstridge; ''Post Mortem'' with [[Charlie Sheen]]; ''[[Crazy Six]]'' with [[Rob Lowe]], [[Mario Van Peebles]] and [[Burt Reynolds]]; ''[[Omega Doom]]'' with [[Rutger Hauer]] and [[Shannon Whirry]]; and ''[[Arcade (film)|Arcade]]'' with [[Megan Ward]], [[Seth Green]], Peter Billingsly and [[John Delancie]]. Pyun also made his only episodic TV work to date for the [[NBC]]/[[Columbia TriStar Television|Columbia Tri-Star]] show ''[[The Fifth Corner]]'' with [[Alex McArthur]], [[Kim Delaney]] and [[James Coburn]].

==2000s==
Pyun directed and produced ''[[Ticker (2001 film)|Ticker]]'' for Artisan Entertainment in May 2000, which featured [[Steven Seagal]], [[Tom Sizemore]], [[Dennis Hopper]], [[Jaime Pressly]], [[Nas]] and Ice-T plus Chilli of the R&B group [[TLC (group)|TLC]]. In 2002, it was among five films honored for sales by the Video Software Dealers Association in the category of 'Direct-to-Video/Limited Release by an Independent Studio'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?ej=md&press_nb=39239 |title=Video Software Dealers Association - VSDA - Announces Its 2002 Home Entertainment Award Winners |work=Mi2N |date=July 19, 2002 |access-date=April 29, 2011 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927180433/http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?ej=md&press_nb=39239 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2004, Pyun went to the U.S. territory of [[Guam]] and, along with film producer John Laing, convinced the Guam government to put up an $800,000 loan guarantee to finance their film ''[[Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon]]''.<ref name=mvguam.com>{{cite news |first=Zita Y. |last=Taitano |title=Local court to hear 'Max Havoc' case |work=[[Marianas Variety]] |date=December 29, 2009 |url=http://mvguam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10189:local-court-to-hear-max-havoc-case&catid=1:guam-local-news&Itemid=61 |access-date=July 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009151711/http://mvguam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10189:local-court-to-hear-max-havoc-case&catid=1:guam-local-news&Itemid=61 |archive-date=October 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In his effort to convince Guam officials to approve the loan guarantee, Pyun told them that he and his producer (Laing) had a "sterling financial record" and that neither he nor John Laing had ever defaulted on a loan.<ref name="mvguam.com"/> In 2006, Laing defaulted on the loan, and Guam lost its guarantee. Laing blamed Pyun for the failure of the film.<ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{cite news |first=Kim |last=Christensen |title=Camera, Legal Action! The making of a kung fu flick on Guam turns into court battles on both sides of the sea |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 13, 2007 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jun-13-fi-guam13-story.html |access-date=May 3, 2011 |archive-date=June 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611083643/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jun/13/business/fi-guam13 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=Nate |last=Denight |title=Tropic Blunder: The Curse of Max Havoc |journal=Uno Magazine Guam |date=June 1, 2010 |url=http://tpiguam.com/unoguam/?s=albert+pyun&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&submit=Go |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717082154/http://tpiguam.com/unoguam/?s=albert+pyun&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&submit=Go |archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref>

An out of court settlement was reached between John Laing and the Guam Economic Development Authority in May 2012 but up until October 2012 Laing has not honored the terms of that settlement.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Kerrigan |title=Laing misses 2nd payment to GEDA in settlement over Max Havoc film fiasco |work=Pacific News Center |date=October 15, 2012 |url=http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28127:max-havoc&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156 |access-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201224134/http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28127:max-havoc&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156 |url-status=live }}</ref> In late 2012, GEDA Administrator Karl Pangelinan reported Laing had made a $75,000 payment on the balance of the settlement amount and the balance outstanding was $75,000.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Kerrigan |url=http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28473:liang-makes-another-payment-to-geda-pangelinan-confident-final-payment-in-max-havoc-film-fiasco-will-be-made-by-january&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156 |title=Liang Makes Another Payment to GEDA, Pangelinan Confident Final Payment in Max Havoc Film Fiasco Will Be Made by January |work=Pacific News Center |date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=December 29, 2012 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201222628/http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28473:liang-makes-another-payment-to-geda-pangelinan-confident-final-payment-in-max-havoc-film-fiasco-will-be-made-by-january&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156 |url-status=live }}</ref> GEDA officials confirmed the final payment was made in February 2013 bringing the matter to a close.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kuam.com/story/21237615/2013/02/18/laing-gmpc-make-first-installment-on-settlement |title=Laing, GMPC make first installment on settlement |first=Mindy |last=Aguon |date=February 25, 2013 |work=[[KUAM-TV|Kuam News]] |access-date=February 27, 2013 |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215213322/http://www.kuam.com/story/21237615/2013/02/18/laing-gmpc-make-first-installment-on-settlement |url-status=live }}</ref> Pyun was not involved in any of the legal litigation between GEDA and Laing.

In September 2008, Pyun began production on ''[[Tales of an Ancient Empire]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/tales-ancient-empire?page=1 |title=Tales of an Ancient Empire |work=[[Dread Central]] |date=April 17, 2008 |access-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020063244/http://www.dreadcentral.com/tales-ancient-empire?page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Shooting began on October 12, 2008. The film premiered at [[Louisville, Kentucky]]'s [[Fright Night Film Fest]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://filmifi.com/gossip/Tales-of-an-Ancient-Empire-to-Debut-at-Fright-Night-Film-Fest-5144618.html |title=Tales of an Ancient Empire to Debut at Fright Night Film Fest – Comic-Con Gossip |publisher=Filmifi.com |date=July 27, 2010 |access-date=April 29, 2011 |archive-date=February 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224052848/http://filmifi.com/gossip/Tales-of-an-Ancient-Empire-to-Debut-at-Fright-Night-Film-Fest-5144618.html |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The film was eventually released by Lions Gate Films in January 2012 and stars [[Kevin Sorbo]], [[Michael Paré]], [[Melissa Ordway]] and [[Ralf Moeller]].

==2010s and 2020s==
Pyun's film ''[[Road to Hell (film)|Road to Hell]]'' won the Best Picture award at the Yellow Fever Independent Film Festival in [[Belfast]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theyfiff.webs.com/yfiffawardwinners.htm |title=Past YFIFF Award Winners |publisher=Yellow Fever Independent Film Festival |access-date=January 24, 2014 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201175925/http://theyfiff.webs.com/yfiffawardwinners.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Later in 2012, it opened the [[PollyGrind Film Festival]] in Las Vegas where it won Best Fantasy Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Song, Best Use of Songs, Best Use of Music, Best Visual Effects, Best Screenplay, and the Newcomer Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/61010/road-hell-wins-nine-awards-pollygrind-film-festival-2012 |title=Road to Hell Wins Nine Awards at PollyGrind Film Festival 2012 |first=Debi |last=Moore |date=October 22, 2012 |work=[[Dread Central]] |access-date=October 22, 2012 |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203020617/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/61010/road-hell-wins-nine-awards-pollygrind-film-festival-2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Illness and death==
In late 2013, Pyun announced he had [[multiple sclerosis]].<ref>[http://twitchfilm.com/2013/08/b-movie-legend-albert-pyun-retires-due-to-health-issues.html Twitch Film] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322182806/http://twitchfilm.com/2013/08/b-movie-legend-albert-pyun-retires-due-to-health-issues.html |date=March 22, 2014 }}</ref> In March 2014, his health had improved enough for him to film ''The Interrogation of Cheryl Cooper''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/74687/albert-pyun-conducting-interrogation-cheryl-cooper-one-take#axzz2whlbUJ1u |title=Dread Central |access-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322182412/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/74687/albert-pyun-conducting-interrogation-cheryl-cooper-one-take#axzz2whlbUJ1u |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2017, he also had [[dementia]]. However, he sought funding for projects as late as 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 27, 2017|title=An Interview with Albert Pyun|url=https://www.bulletproofaction.com/2017/06/27/an-interview-with-albert-pyun/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-13|website=www.bulletproofaction.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823033933/http://www.bulletproofaction.com:80/2017/06/27/an-interview-with-albert-pyun/ |archive-date=August 23, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bzfilm.com/articles-notes/albert-pyun-seeks-funding-for-new-film/|title=Albert Pyun seeks funding for his new film|date=April 28, 2018|access-date=January 2, 2019|archive-date=January 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102143128/http://bzfilm.com/articles-notes/albert-pyun-seeks-funding-for-new-film/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2022, Pyun's wife and [[Film producer|producer]] Cynthia Curnan<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gajewski |first1=Ryan |title=Albert Pyun, Director of 'Cyborg' and 'The Sword and the Sorcerer,' Dies at 69 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/albert-pyun-dead-director-cyborg-1235270146/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 27, 2022 |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127081330/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/albert-pyun-dead-director-cyborg-1235270146/ |url-status=live }}</ref> posted on her [[Facebook]] page that Pyun's health was in rapid decline and that he had been placed in [[hospice]] care. Curnan stated that Pyun wanted to hear from his supporters and asked if people would write him messages that she could read to him. Her request was amplified by the Facebook page for film director [[Sam Peckinpah]] and on film review websites such as [[JoBlo.com|''JoBlo'']] and ''[[ComicBook.com]]''. Curnan reported to fans a week later that Pyun was "enjoying messages from supporters" and that they helped to "alleviate guilt Pyun has been feeling because he was unable to complete two films before he had to stop working."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hamman |first1=Cody |title=Legendary director Albert Pyun would like to hear from fans in his final days |url=https://www.joblo.com/albert-pyun-fan-messages/ |website=JoBlo.com |date=November 16, 2022 |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-date=June 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618005919/https://www.joblo.com/albert-pyun-fan-messages/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Burlingame |first1=Russ |title=Albert Pyun, Captain America and The Sword and the Sorcerer Director, Wants to Hear From Fans in His Last Days |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/albert-pyun-captain-america-sword-and-the-sorcerer-director-dying-fans-messages/ |website=ComicBook.com |date=November 17, 2022 |publisher=Paramount Global |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-date=June 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618005918/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/albert-pyun-captain-america-sword-and-the-sorcerer-director-dying-fans-messages/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Pyun died in Las Vegas on November 26, 2022, at the age of 69.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kim Murphy |first=J. |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/obituaries-people-news/albert-pyun-dead-nemesis-cyborg-captain-america-1235173286/ |title=Albert Pyun, Cult Filmmaker Behind 'Cyborg,' 'Nemesis' and 'Captain America,' Dies at 69 |website=Variety |date=27 November 2022 |access-date=27 November 2022 |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128131748/https://variety.com/2022/film/obituaries-people-news/albert-pyun-dead-nemesis-cyborg-captain-america-1235173286/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Awards==
* 2005 – Golden Unicorn Award for lifetime achievement at the Estepona International Film Festival of Fantasy and Horror.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screendaily.com/26-august-2005/184.issue |title=Albert Pyun to be feted at Estepona festival in Spain |first=Jeremy |last=Kay |work=[[Screen Daily]] |date=August 23, 2005 |access-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010045158/http://www.screendaily.com/26-august-2005/184.issue |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2011 – Induction into the B-movie Hall of Fame at the B-Movie Celebration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmoviecelebration.com/?p=718 |title=The Golden Cob 2011 Winners |publisher=The B Movie Celebration |date=June 27, 2011 |access-date=July 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326130839/http://www.bmoviecelebration.com/?p=718 |archive-date=March 26, 2012 }}</ref> 
* 2012 – Lifetime Achievement-Filmmaker of a Different Breed Award at the PollyGrind Film Festival.
* 2013 – Groundbreaker Award – BUT FILM FESTIVAL (Breda, Netherlands)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.butff.nl/nl/artikel/de-awards-2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131020164305/http://www.butff.nl/nl/artikel/de-awards-2013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |title=De BUT-awards 2013 |language=nl }}</ref>
* 2013 – Indie Genre Spirit Award – Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.igorslab.com/home/2013/10/14/buffalo-dreams-fantastic-film-festival-to-show-85-films.html |title=Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival To Show 85 Films |first=Kyle |last=Reese |date=October 14, 2013 |work=Igor's Lab |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131020164258/http://www.igorslab.com/home/2013/10/14/buffalo-dreams-fantastic-film-festival-to-show-85-films.html |archive-date=October 20, 2013 }}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Films===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''[[The Sword and the Sorcerer]]'' (1982) 
* ''[[Radioactive Dreams]]'' (1985) 
* ''[[Dangerously Close]]'' (1986) 
* ''Vicious Lips'' (1986)
* ''[[Down Twisted]]'' (1987) 
* ''[[Alien from L.A.]]'' (1988) 
* ''[[Cyborg (film)|Cyborg]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Deceit (1989 film)|Deceit]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Captain America (1990 film)|Captain America]]'' (1990) 
* ''[[Bloodmatch]]'' (1991) 
* ''[[Kickboxer 2]]'' (1991) 
* ''[[Dollman (film)|Dollman]]'' (1991) 
* ''[[Nemesis (1992 film)|Nemesis]]'' (1992) 
* ''[[Arcade (film)|Arcade]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Knights (film)|Knights]]'' (1993) 
* ''[[Brainsmasher... A Love Story]]'' (1993) 
* ''[[Kickboxer 4]]'' (1994) 
* ''[[Hong Kong 97 (film)|Hong Kong 97]]'' (1994) 
* ''Heatseeker'' (1995) 
* ''[[Nemesis 2: Nebula]]'' (1995)
* ''Spitfire'' (1995)
* ''[[Omega Doom]]'' (1996) 
*  ''[[Adrenalin: Fear the Rush]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Nemesis 3: Prey Harder]]'' (1996) 
* ''[[Raven Hawk]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Nemesis 4: Death Angel]]'' (1996) 
* ''[[Mean Guns]]'' (1997) 
* ''[[Crazy Six]]'' (1998) 
* ''[[Postmortem (1998 film)|Postmortem]]'' (1998) 
* ''[[Urban Menace]]'' (1999)
* ''[[The Wrecking Crew (2000 film)|The Wrecking Crew]]'' (2000) 
* ''[[Ticker (2001 film)|Ticker]]'' (2001) 
* ''[[Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon]]'' (2004) 
* ''[[Left for Dead (2007 Western film)|Left for Dead]]'' (2007) 
* ''[[Road to Hell (film)|Road to Hell]]'' (2008) 
* ''[[Bulletface]]'' (2010) 
* ''[[Tales of an Ancient Empire]]'' (2010)
* ''The Interrogation of Cheryl Cooper'' (2014)
* ''Interstellar Civil War'' (2017)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0089502}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110326024600/http://twitchfilm.com/interviews/2011/03/a-few-words-with-albert-pyun-on-the-recent-cyborg-re-release.php A Few Words With Albert Pyun on the Recent Cyborg Re-release]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160529023323/http://moviehole.net/201138741-captain-america-directors-cut-going-direct-to-blu-ray Captain America: Director's Cut going direct-to-Blu-ray!]
*http://io9.com/#!5779203/is-it-finally-time-for-the-director-of-the-original-captain-america-to-get-some-love

{{Albert Pyun}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pyun, Albert}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Film directors from Hawaii]]
[[Category:American horror film directors]]
[[Category:American science fiction film directors]]