John Hockridge Courtesy of the Hockridge Family John Hockridge, an accomplished assistant director who collaborated with director Peter Segal on eight films, including the Adam Sandler starrers Anger Management, 50 First Dates and the remake of The Longest Yard, has died. He was 79. Hockridge died April 17 of liver cancer in Portland, Oregon, his daughter Lindsey Hockridge told The Hollywood Reporter. He was diagnosed at stage 4 in December.