From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Robert Bob Rafelson February 21 1933July 23 2022 was an American film director writer and producer He was most famous for directing and cowriting the film Five Easy Pieces starring Jack Nicholson as well as being one of the creators of the pop group and TV series The Monkees with RaybertBBS Productions partner Bert Schneider Rafelson was born in New York City the son of a hat manufacturer His uncle was screenwriter and playwright Samson Raphaelson Rafelson and Nicholson have been collaborators for over thirty years Nicholson and Rafelson wrote and produced and Rafelson directed Head starring the Monkees in 1968 followed by Five Easy Pieces In subsequent years Rafelson directed Nicholson in four more films including The King of Marvin Gardens 1972 The Postman Always Rings Twice 1981 Man Trouble 1992 and Blood and Wine 1996 Rafelson has adapted the works of legendary noir authors James M Cain Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett Description above from the Wikipedia article Bob Rafelson licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia