There’s been a great disturbance in the Force. Irvin Kershner, director of the penultimate film in the original Star Wars trilogy, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back has passed away at the age of 87. Kershner is survived by two sons, David Kershner and Dana Kershner.
Most of us know Kershner’s work from the aforementioned pinnacle of Star Wars films, of course that was not the only project that the director helmed in his career. Kershner manned the director’s chair on the James Bond film, Never Say Never Again starring Sean Connery, RoboCop 2 starring Peter Weller, among others. His final directorial gig was on a 1993 episode of SeaQuest 2032 entitled, To Be or Not to Be. Kershner more recently taught screenwriting at the University of Southern California while continuing to produce, write and create still photographs.
Creator of the Star Wars universe, George Lucas reacted to the passing of Kershner on StarWars.com saying:
“The world has lost a great director and one of the most genuine people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Irvin Kershner was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. When I think of Kersh, I think of his warmth, his thoughtfulness and his talent. I knew him from USC — I attended his lectures and he was actually on the festival panel that gave the prize to my THX short. I considered him a mentor.
“Following Star Wars, I knew one thing for sure: I didn’t want to direct the second moviemyself. I needed someone I could trust, someone I really admired and whose work had maturity and humor. That was Kersh all over. I didn’t want Empire to turn into just another sequel, another episode in a series of space adventures. I was trying to build something, and I knew Kersh was the guy to help me do it. He brought so much to the table. I am truly grateful to him.
“He was a friend as well as a colleague. He will be missed.”
Check out the gallery below for some cool pictures of Irvin Kershner on the set of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back with some familiar faces.
David Kershner said his father told him in September: “You have to throw yourself into things. There is no second way. Passion gives you energy.“
