‘Empire Strikes Back’ director Irvin Kershner dies aged 87

LONDON - Irvin Kershner, who directed the ‘Star Wars’ sequel ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and James Bond film ‘Never Say Never Again’, died at his home in Los Angeles. He was 87.

His goddaughter Adriana Santini said Kershner died after a long illness, reports the BBC.

Born in Philadelphia in 1923, the director trained as a musician before making documentaries and features.

Kershner directed a number of noted features, including ‘A Fine Madness’ with Sean Connery, ‘Up the Sandbox’ with Barbra Streisand, ‘The Return of a Man Called Horse’ (1976) with Richard Harris, and ‘The Eyes of Laura Mars’ with Faye Dunaway. His other credits included ‘Never Say Never Again’ (1983) with Connery and ‘Robocop 2′.

Yet he remains best known for ‘The Empire Strikes Back’, considered by many to be the best film in the ‘Star Wars’ series. (ANI)