“The Empire Strikes Back” Director Passes Away

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LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com)- Just few days after actor Leslie Nielsen’s death, Hollywood witnessed another death of a legendary director Irvin Kershner who is best known for directing the epic “The Empire Strikes Back” - a Star Wars sequel. The veteran film director passed away on Saturday in his Los Angeles home after battling for 3 and half year against lung cancer. The director’s long time friend and publicist Dick Guttman announced the sad news to the media. Irvin Kershner was 87 years old.

Hollywood celebrities mourned the death of such a highly acclaimed director on Monday and George Lucas paid his tribute to as well. David Kershner, son of Irvin Kershner said in his statement that his father never retired from his creations. He said that Irvin Kershner had a “powerful” drive to create things and he excelled in everything like photography, writing and films. “The Empire Strikes Back” director made his feature dictatorial debut in 1958 with “Stakeout on Dope Street” and then he directed films like “Hoodlum Priest”, “A Fine Madness” etc.

Irvin Kershner’s smash hit “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” is still remembered to be one of the most critically acclaimed installment of George Lucas’ “Star Wars” series. George Lucas expressed his condolence at the unfortunate demise of the director by saying that he needed someone whom he could trust with the sequel of his “Star Wars” series and who could do justice to his role as a director. George Lucas said that Irvin Kershner was the perfect choice as his work had humor and maturity which the former admired a lot. George Lucas remembered Irvin Kershner by saying that he was a great director and one of the most genuine people.