Writer director Irvin Kershner, director of The Empire Strikes Back and Bond hit Never Say Never Again, has died at the age of 87.
One of the cinema's great all rounders, Kershner made his name in the industry by writing and directing Stakeout On Dope Street in 1958. He would go on to helm cult hits like The Eyes Of Laura Mars and franchise hits like RoboCop 2, but it was with Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back that he really made his name. Widely considered the best film in the series, it brought depth to George Lucas' characters and gave us some classic cinematic moments. He was descrbed by the cast as the director they most enjoyed working with because of his friendly, supportive approach. "The thing you learn in directing is that no matter how complex the shooting, you have to remain sensitive to the people around you or the machine will ultimately take over," he said. "If you don't keep in mind the essential humanity of it all, technique will dominate."
Kershner had a passion for stills photography, training at the Art Center College Of Design in Los Angeles, and he worked extensively as a cinematographer, specialising in documentaries. He enjoyed bit parts in a number of films, including Martin Scorsese's controversial The Last Temptation Of Christ, and he was also a talented violinist and composer. He was involved in the development of several highly popular television series, including Peyton Place.
Kershner retired from directing in 1994, though he continued to work on other creative projects. He died peacefully at home after several years of illness.
