Richard Donner celebrated for 'Superman,' super kindness

(AP) — Richard Donner may have created the modern superhero movie with 1978's "Superman" and revitalized the buddy comedy with "Lethal Weapon," but his colleagues say his big-hearted kindness is what truly sets him apart.

Actor Corey Feldman said Donner paid for his rehab years after they worked together on "The Goonies."

Warm personal anecdotes dominated the nearly 2 ½-hour program at the film academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, punctuated by clips from The Goonies, ''Scrooged, ''The Omen, ''Radio Flyer and, of course, Superman.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and DC Entertainment president Geoff Johns, the two men responsible for the last decade of superhero blockbusters, both worked for Donner when they were starting out in Hollywood.

"'Superman' the movie is still, to this day, the archetype of the perfect superhero film origin story," Feige said, adding that his staff at Marvel watches it before embarking on most projects.

Donner has never been nominated for an Academy Award, though "Superman" received bids for editing, music and sound, along with a special prize for visual effects.