Director, producer, and sometime actor Zalman King died 3 February 2012 of cancer. Born Zalman Lefkovitz on 23 May 1942 in Trenton, New Jersey, The Hollywood Reporter notes “His trademark was work with a strong, somewhat artistic, erotic content. His most successful films as a director were 1988’s Two Moon Junction and 1992’s Red Shoe Diaries, which went on to be a series on Showtime.” He was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actor-Television for his role on The Young Lawyers (1969), and for a Razzie for Worst Screenplay for Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986).
His career started with small tv acting roles in the 1960s, but then he moved into directing and producing.
His genre acting appearances include: Saint Francis (2007), Galaxy of Terror (1981), Blue Sunshine (1978), Trip with the Teacher (1985), and The Munsters (1965). He was an executive producer on 1982’s Endangered Species.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.