Donner won the President's Award in 2000 for his contribution to the film industry.
Donner and his wife received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008.
Donner's rise to fame
The Bronx-born director started in television dramas in the 1950s, working on more than 25 series' including Get Smart, The Wild Wild West, The Twilight Zone and Gilligan's Island.
He directed his first feature film, X-15, in 1961, before getting his big break on the 1976 horror film, The Omen.
But his worldwide recognition came with Superman: The Movie, in 1978, which bolstered both Donner and his lead actor, Reeve, to international fame.
Superman became a smash hit and box office success, co-starring Margot Kidder, Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman.
He went on to have even greater success, directing family film The Goonies in 1985, the Lethal Weapon series starting in 1987, Scrooged and Conspiracy Theory.
Donner also executive produced the 2000 Marvel Comics film, X-Men.
Tributes flow for Donner
People are paying tribute to the iconic director, who is being remembered as a "caring" and "wonderful" person.
US actor Sean Astin, who starred in The Goonies, remembered him as having the "biggest voice you could imagine", while Steven Spielberg said he was an "endearing friend".
