United Kingdom, April 12 -- Ted Kotcheff, the Canadian-born director best known for bringing John Rambo to the screen in 'First Blood', has died aged 94.

The filmmaker passed away at the Hospital Joya in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico, surrounded by his family, according to his son Thomas Kotcheff -who simply said in a statement: "He died peacefully."

A prolific filmmaker whose career spanned more than five decades, Ted directed several landmark films including 'Fun With Dick and Jane', 'Weekend at Bernie's' and 'North Dallas Forty'.

Born in Toronto in 1931, he began his career in Canadian television before relocating to the UK.

His feature directorial debut came in 1962 with the British comedy 'Tiara Tahiti'.

Ted's breakthrough came with the...