Irvin Kershner
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
Irvin Kershner (born April 29, 1923) is the director of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. A graduate of the University of Southern California, "Kersh" (a longtime nickname of his) has directed several major film and television hits, but retired in 1994 after completing SeaQuest DSV.
A film instructor of George Lucas at USC, Kershner summarizes his interaction with Lucas when asked to direct The Empire Strikes Back:
- "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."
He was invited to direct The Phantom Menace, but declined.[source?]
