Director Irvin Kershner has passed away after a long illness.
Kershner is one of the many directors that got their first break by directing a film for Roger Corman, 1958’s Stakeout on Dope Street.
Kershner was also a respected teacher and was asked to direct a film by former student George Lucas, which he turned down several times before accepting at the insistence of his agent.
That film was The Empire Strikes Back.
Among Kershner’s other work were the films S*P*Y*S, Eyes of Laura Mars, Never Say Never Again and RoboCop 2. But it was the Star Wars sequel that most people will fondly remember him for.
Kershner questioned Lucas’ invitation to direct Empire, “Of all the younger guys around, all the hot shots, why me? I remember he said, ‘Well, because you know everything a Hollywood director is supposed to know, but you’re not Hollywood.’ I liked that.”
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