Together with Director George Lucas, the producer brought the first “Star Wars”films to the cinema – a world-wide success. The two parted, however, in dispute. Now Kurtz has died at the age of 78 years.
Gary Kurtz had died in London of cancer, told his family on Monday. He celebrated his greatest successes as a producer of the first two “Star Wars”films – at the side of Director George Lucas. With “star wars” (1977) and “The Empire strikes back” (1980) solved the Duo a true “Star Wars”-Hype.
With “American Graffiti” had the two in 1973 as a breakthrough. After the first “Star Wars”movie was unexpectedly a huge success, it was Gary Kurtz, the sat down with George Lucas to produce a sequel. As the originally scheduled rotation time and the Budget of “The Empire strikes back”, finally, were, and Lucas exceeded had his own money in the Film stuck, jumped in Kurtz even as a Director of the Second Unit.
Cult: “The Empire strikes back”
However, after the second “Star Wars”movie, you überwarfen. Kurtz left the series, produced but still films, including “The dark crystal”, “Slipstream” and “An honorable anti-theft”.
In the statement the family said: “Gary was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, colleague and Mentor, whose work and Talent spanned Film, photography, music and film history. He was a Marine infantryman, a world traveler, an Outdoor man, and a kind, compassionate person.”
Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew wrote on Twitter: “A great filmmaker and a man died. Without him, there would have been no ‘Power’. You’re in the movies you made and have influenced the lives of millions, be remembered.”
jhi/qu (dpa/movie times.de)