Born to middle-class parents in New York on Feb. 21, 1933, Robert "Bob" Rafelson left home at age 14 and worked as a cowboy in Arizona until he broke his back in a rodeo. After serving time in the Army (where he was court-martialed twice), the risk-taking Rafelson settled into the world of television, making his mark as co-creator of "The Monkees" and as director of the band's first feature film, Head (1968), which he co-wrote with a young Jack Nicholson.

The pair continued their relationship with Five Easy Pieces (1970), which is widely considered Rafelson's most notable work; The King of Marvin Gardens (1972); The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981); Man Trouble (1992); and Blood and Wine (1996).

Notable small-screen credits include a music video for Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" (1985); a short segment for Showtime's "Picture Windows" (1995); and the HBO drama Poodle Springs (1998).