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John MacDonald Badham (born August 25, 1939) is an English-born American film director, best known for Saturday Night Fever (1977) and WarGames (1983). Badham was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, the son of Mary Iola (née Hewitt), an actress, and Henry Lee Badham, a business executive and U.S. Air Force General. Badham was raised in the state of Alabama in the U.S. and became a naturalized citizen in 1950. He attended Indian Springs School in Alabama and college at Yale University. Badham had worked for television for years before his breakthrough in 1977 with Saturday Night... MORE

John MacDonald Badham (born August 25, 1939) is an English-born American film director, best known for Saturday Night Fever (1977) and WarGames (1983). Badham was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, the son of Mary Iola (née Hewitt), an actress, and Henry Lee Badham, a business executive and U.S. Air Force General. Badham was raised in the state of Alabama in the U.S. and became a naturalized citizen in 1950. He attended Indian Springs School in Alabama and college at Yale University. Badham had worked for television for years before his breakthrough in 1977 with Saturday Night Fever. Starring John Travolta, the film is recognized as the most representational of the 1970s disco era. WarGames (1983), starring Matthew Broderick, is his other signature film, renowned for its take on popular Cold War fears of nuclear terror and holocaust as well amateur hacking. In addition to his numerous film credits, Badham has also directed and produced for TV, including credits for Rod Serling's Night Gallery and the A&E television series The Beast. He has also contributed commentary to the web series Trailers From Hell. Badham is the older brother (by 13 years) of Mary Badham, Oscar LESS