What unusual distinction unites these directors?

Mark Robson, Charles Walters, Phil Nebbelink and Simon Wells, Frank Oz, John Irvin, Glenn Gordon Caron, Larry Cohen, Steven Spielberg, Ingmar Bergman, and George Cukor.

Answer: they all directed the last feature film of a star from AFI’s list of 100 Years, 100 Stars. Specifically, these directors handled the top 5 men and top 5 women.