files/pictures/picture-35.jpgDirector Irvin Kershner, best known for directing THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, has passed away, reports
Variety . Kershner died on Saturday, Nov. 27 after a long illness. He was 87 years old.
Kershner's directing credits also include the James Bond film NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN and ROBOCOP 2.
Kershner was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he studied music and photography. We worked as an illustrator before attending the film school at USC. After school, he went to Greece, Turkey and the Middle East to make informational films for the U.S. government. His first break into fictional feature films was on Roger Corman's STAKEOUT ON DOPE STREET.
He received an Emmy nod for directing the TV movie RAID ON ENTEBBE.
He can be seen on-screen in Martin Scorsese's THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.
He served on the faculty at USC as well.
