Director
Irvin Kershner
Born 29 April 1923 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA — died 27 November 2010
Irvin Kershner (1923–2010) was an American director who moved from small, character-driven independent dramas to major studio spectacles. He is best known for The Empire Strikes Back, often ranked among the finest Star Wars films, and also directed Never Say Never Again and RoboCop 2.
Key films
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
His best-known film; the darker, acclaimed Star Wars sequel that defined his blockbuster career.
Never Say Never Again (1983)
Sean Connery's return as James Bond, outside the official Eon series.
Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)
Stylish thriller about a fashion photographer with disturbing visions of murders.
The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1964)
Acclaimed early drama that brought him international festival attention.
The Hoodlum Priest (1961)
Early independent drama showing his focus on character and social themes.
Key awards
- 1964: Palme d'Or nomination at Cannes, for The Luck of Ginger Coffey
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 42
- 1955Confidential File: BarbituratesDirector
- 1955Confidential File: Horror ComicsDirector
- 1958Stakeout on Dope StreetDirector
- 1958Now Is TomorrowDirector
- 1959The Young CaptivesDirector
- 1961The Hoodlum PriestDirector
- 1963A Face in the RainDirector
- 1964The Luck of Ginger CoffeyDirector
- 1966A Fine MadnessDirector
- 1967The Flim-Flam ManDirector
- 1970LovingDirector
- 1972Up the SandboxDirector
- 1974S*P*Y*SDirector
- 1976The Return of a Man Called HorseDirector
- 1976Raid on EntebbeDirector
- 1978Eyes of Laura MarsDirector
- 1980The Empire Strikes BackDirector
- 1980SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back · as SelfActor
- 1980Star Wars: Music by John Williams · as SelfActor
- 1980The Making of The Empire Strikes Back · as SelfActor
- 1983Never Say Never AgainDirector
- 1983From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga · as SelfActor
- 1988The Last Temptation of Christ · as ZebedeeActor
- 1989Traveling ManDirector
- 1990RoboCop 2Director
- 1993SeaQuest DSVDirector
- 1994On Deadly Ground · as WaltersActor
- 1995Angus · as Mr. StoffActor
- 1997Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery · as SelfActor
- 1998Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs · as SelfActor
- 2003Manhood · as GentlemanActor
- 2004Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy · as SelfActor
- 2004When Star Wars Ruled the World · as SelfActor
- 2005Berkeley · as Statistics ProfessorActor
- 2005Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema · as SelfActor
- 2005Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection · as SelfActor
- 2006Shooting the Police: Cops on Film · as SelfActor
- 2007Fog City Mavericks · as SelfActor
- 2011Corman's World · as Self - FilmmakerActor
- 2011A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later · as SelfActor
- 2014Being and Becoming · as SelfActor
- 2017Corporate Wars: The Making of 'RoboCop 2' · as Self (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.