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| death_date = {{Death date and age|2010|11|27|1923|4|29|mf=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2010|11|27|1923|4|29|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| alma_mater = [[University of Southern California]]
| alma_mater = [[Temple University]]<br>[[USC School of Cinematic Arts]]
| occupation = [[Film director]], producer, actor
| occupation = {{hlist|Director|actor}}
| years_active = 1952–2009
| years_active = 1952–2009
| children = 2
| children = 2
}}
}}


'''Irvin Kershner''' (born '''Isadore Kershner'''; April 29, 1923{{spaced ndash}}November 27, 2010) was an American [[Film director|director]] for film and television.
'''Irvin Kershner''' (born '''Isadore Kershner'''; April 29, 1923{{spaced ndash}}November 27, 2010) was an American film and television director, actor, and a film lecturer at the [[University of Southern California]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=USC Cinematic Arts {{!}} School of Cinematic Arts News |url=https://cinema.usc.edu/news/article.cfm?id=9876 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=cinema.usc.edu}}</ref>


Early in his career as a filmmaker he directed quirky, independent [[drama film]]s, while working as a lecturer at the [[University of Southern California]]. Later, he transitioned to high-budget [[blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbusters]] such as ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', the [[James Bond]] adaptation ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' and ''[[RoboCop 2]]''. Through the course of his career, he received numerous accolades, including being nominated for both a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] and a [[Palme d'Or]].
He began his career as a [[Documentary film|documentarian]], before becoming known as a director of offbeat, humanistic [[Drama film|dramas]] and [[Comedy film|comedies]].<ref name=":1" /> He later transitioned to directing high-budget [[blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbusters]] such as the [[Star Wars|''Star Wars'']] film ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' (1980), the [[James Bond]] film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' (1983), and the science-fiction action film sequel ''[[RoboCop 2]]'' (1990).


Through the course of his career, he received several accolades. He won a [[Saturn Award for Best Director]] and a [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation]] for ''The Empire Strikes Back'', and was nominated at various times for a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] and the [[Cannes Film Festival]]'s prestigious [[Palme d'Or]].
==Early life==

Between 2002 and 2004, he served as a Visiting Professor and Research Associate at the [[Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities]] (MITH).<ref name=":0" />

==Early life and education==
Irvin Kershner was born in [[Philadelphia]], to [[Russian-Jewish]] parents. They were born in [[Talne]], [[Russian Empire]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|author=Barson, Michael|url=http://www.britannica.com/biography/Irvin-Kershner|title=Biography – Irvin Kershner, American director|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=July 15, 2014}}</ref> His artistic and cultural background was a mixture of music and art. The study of music ([[violin]], [[viola]] and [[musical composition|composition]]) was the most important activity of his early years.<ref>{{cite web|author=Myers, Joseph|url=http://www.southphillyreview.com/news/features/In-Memoriam-Irvin-Kershner-joins-the-Force.html|title=In Memoriam: Irvin Kershner joins the Force|work=[[South Philly Review]]|date=December 9, 2010|access-date=December 21, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222090840/http://www.southphillyreview.com/news/features/In-Memoriam-Irvin-Kershner-joins-the-Force.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He attended [[Temple University]]'s [[Tyler School of Art|Tyler School of Fine Arts]] in Philadelphia. Later, he went to [[New York City|New York]] and [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]] to study with the famous painting teacher [[Hans Hofmann]]. He then moved to [[Los Angeles]] where he studied photography at the [[Art Center College of Design]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=USC Cinematic Arts {{!}} School of Cinematic Arts News |url=https://cinema.usc.edu/news/article.cfm?id=9876 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=cinema.usc.edu}}</ref>
Irvin Kershner was born in [[Philadelphia]], to [[Russian-Jewish]] parents. They were born in [[Talne]], [[Russian Empire]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|author=Barson, Michael|url=http://www.britannica.com/biography/Irvin-Kershner|title=Biography – Irvin Kershner, American director|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=July 15, 2014}}</ref> His artistic and cultural background was a mixture of music and art. The study of music ([[violin]], [[viola]] and [[musical composition|composition]]) was the most important activity of his early years.<ref>{{cite web|author=Myers, Joseph|url=http://www.southphillyreview.com/news/features/In-Memoriam-Irvin-Kershner-joins-the-Force.html|title=In Memoriam: Irvin Kershner joins the Force|work=[[South Philly Review]]|date=December 9, 2010|access-date=December 21, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222090840/http://www.southphillyreview.com/news/features/In-Memoriam-Irvin-Kershner-joins-the-Force.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He attended [[Temple University]]'s [[Tyler School of Art|Tyler School of Fine Arts]] in Philadelphia. Later, he went to [[New York City|New York]] and [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]] to study with the famous painting teacher [[Hans Hofmann]]. He then moved to [[Los Angeles]] where he studied photography at the [[Art Center College of Design]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=USC Cinematic Arts {{!}} School of Cinematic Arts News |url=https://cinema.usc.edu/news/article.cfm?id=9876 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=cinema.usc.edu}}</ref>


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When he returned to the States, he and [[Paul Coates]] developed ''Confidential File'', a documentary television series. Kershner worked as writer, director, cinematographer and editor. He later developed and directed the television series ''[[The Rebel (American TV series)|The Rebel]]'' (1959–61), as well as the [[Television pilot|pilots]] for ''[[Peyton Place (TV series)|Peyton Place]]'', ''[[Cain's Hundred]]'', ''[[Philip Marlowe (TV series)|Philip Marlowe]]'', and others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acclaimed Director Irvin Kershner Passes |url=https://www.emmys.com/news/news/acclaimed-director-irvin-kershner-passes |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}</ref>
When he returned to the States, he and [[Paul Coates]] developed ''Confidential File'', a documentary television series. Kershner worked as writer, director, cinematographer and editor. He later developed and directed the television series ''[[The Rebel (American TV series)|The Rebel]]'' (1959–61), as well as the [[Television pilot|pilots]] for ''[[Peyton Place (TV series)|Peyton Place]]'', ''[[Cain's Hundred]]'', ''[[Philip Marlowe (TV series)|Philip Marlowe]]'', and others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acclaimed Director Irvin Kershner Passes |url=https://www.emmys.com/news/news/acclaimed-director-irvin-kershner-passes |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}</ref>


He then moved on to feature films. His debut film was the 1958 crime drama ''[[Stakeout on Dope Street]],'' produced by [[Roger Corman]]. His 1961 biopic of Jesuit priest [[Dismas Clark]], ''[[The Hoodlum Priest]],'' earned critical acclaim and was nominated for the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[1961 Cannes Film Festival]].
He then moved on to feature films, including: ''[[The Hoodlum Priest]]'' (which starred [[Don Murray (actor)|Don Murray]]); ''[[The Luck of Ginger Coffey (film)|The Luck of Ginger Coffey]]'' (with [[Robert Shaw (actor)|Robert Shaw]] and [[Mary Ure]]); ''[[A Fine Madness]]'' (with [[Sean Connery]], [[Joanne Woodward]], and [[Jean Seberg]]); ''[[The Flim-Flam Man]]'' (starring [[Michael Sarrazin]], [[George C. Scott]] and [[Sue Lyon]]); ''[[Loving (1970 film)|Loving]]'' (with [[George Segal]] and [[Eva Marie Saint]]); ''[[Up the Sandbox]]'' (with [[Barbra Streisand]]); ''[[The Return of a Man Called Horse]]'' (starring [[Richard Harris]]); the critically acclaimed TV movie ''[[Raid on Entebbe (film)|Raid on Entebbe]]'' (a true-life drama which was nominated for nine [[Emmy Award|Emmys]], including Best Direction); and the supernatural thriller ''[[Eyes of Laura Mars]]'' (starring [[Faye Dunaway]] and [[Tommy Lee Jones]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Irvin Kershner |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/101309%7C73218/Irvin-Kershner/ |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=www.tcm.com |language=en}}</ref>


His subsequent films included: ''[[The Luck of Ginger Coffey (film)|The Luck of Ginger Coffey]]'' (with [[Robert Shaw (actor)|Robert Shaw]] and [[Mary Ure]]); ''[[A Fine Madness]]'' (with [[Sean Connery]], [[Joanne Woodward]], and [[Jean Seberg]]); ''[[The Flim-Flam Man]]'' (starring [[Michael Sarrazin]], [[George C. Scott]] and [[Sue Lyon]]); ''[[Loving (1970 film)|Loving]]'' (with [[George Segal]] and [[Eva Marie Saint]]); ''[[Up the Sandbox]]'' (with [[Barbra Streisand]]); ''[[The Return of a Man Called Horse]]'' (starring [[Richard Harris]]); the critically acclaimed TV movie ''[[Raid on Entebbe (film)|Raid on Entebbe]]'' (a true-life drama which was nominated for nine [[Emmy Award|Emmys]], including Best Direction); and the supernatural thriller ''[[Eyes of Laura Mars]]'' (starring [[Faye Dunaway]] and [[Tommy Lee Jones]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Irvin Kershner |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/101309%7C73218/Irvin-Kershner/ |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=www.tcm.com |language=en}}</ref>
Kershner was the son of Jewish immigrants.<ref name="nyt">{{cite web|author=Weber, Bruce|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/movies/30kershner.html?scp=2&sq=irvin%20kershner&st=cse|title=Irvin Kershner, Hollywood Director, Dies at 87|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 29, 2010|access-date=December 21, 2015}}</ref> He considered himself an [[:wikt:internationalist|internationalist]], saying: "I've been a student of [[Christianity]]. I've been interested in the historical basis of the [[Islam|Muslim religion]]. I studied [[Buddhism]]. I don't think of myself as a Jew except by birth, as I don't follow the customs. I'm a Jew because other people consider me so. My pride is in being international."<ref name=p238>{{cite book|title=Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of The Making of The Empire Strikes Back|author=Arnold, Alan|date=1980|publisher=Sphere Books|isbn=978-0-3452-9075-5|pages=238}}</ref>


===''The Empire Strikes Back''===
===''The Empire Strikes Back''===
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After ''Empire Strikes Back'', Kershner directed ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' ([[Sean Connery]]'s return to the role of [[James Bond]]), the [[HBO]] film ''Traveling Man'' (starring [[John Lithgow]] and [[Jonathan Silverman]], this film earned Kershner an [[ACE Award]] nomination), and ''[[RoboCop 2]]''. He also directed the pilot of the television series ''[[seaQuest DSV]]'', and he made his debut as an actor in the [[Martin Scorsese]] film ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ (film)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]'' (1988), in which he played [[Zebedee]], the father of the [[Twelve Apostles|apostles]] [[Saint James the Great|James]] and [[John the Apostle|John]]. He played a film director in [[Steven Seagal]]'s ''[[On Deadly Ground]]''. He was a faculty member at the [[Master of Professional Writing Program]] at the [[University of Southern California]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cinema.usc.edu/news/article.cfm?id=9876 |title=In Memoriam: Irvin Kershner |date=November 30, 2010 |access-date=December 21, 2015 |work=[[School of Cinematic Arts]] |publisher=[[University of Southern California]]}}</ref> In 2000, he was a member of the jury at the [[22nd Moscow International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://36.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff36/eng/archives/?year=2000 |title=22nd Moscow International Film Festival |year=2000 |access-date=June 12, 2015 |publisher=[[Moscow International Film Festival]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118222628/http://36.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff38/eng/archives/?year=2000 |archive-date=November 18, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
After ''Empire Strikes Back'', Kershner directed ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' ([[Sean Connery]]'s return to the role of [[James Bond]]), the [[HBO]] film ''Traveling Man'' (starring [[John Lithgow]] and [[Jonathan Silverman]], this film earned Kershner an [[ACE Award]] nomination), and ''[[RoboCop 2]]''. He also directed the pilot of the television series ''[[seaQuest DSV]]'', and he made his debut as an actor in the [[Martin Scorsese]] film ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ (film)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]'' (1988), in which he played [[Zebedee]], the father of the [[Twelve Apostles|apostles]] [[Saint James the Great|James]] and [[John the Apostle|John]]. He played a film director in [[Steven Seagal]]'s ''[[On Deadly Ground]]''. He was a faculty member at the [[Master of Professional Writing Program]] at the [[University of Southern California]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cinema.usc.edu/news/article.cfm?id=9876 |title=In Memoriam: Irvin Kershner |date=November 30, 2010 |access-date=December 21, 2015 |work=[[School of Cinematic Arts]] |publisher=[[University of Southern California]]}}</ref> In 2000, he was a member of the jury at the [[22nd Moscow International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://36.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff36/eng/archives/?year=2000 |title=22nd Moscow International Film Festival |year=2000 |access-date=June 12, 2015 |publisher=[[Moscow International Film Festival]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118222628/http://36.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff38/eng/archives/?year=2000 |archive-date=November 18, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In fall 2002, spring 2003, fall 2004, and spring 2004, Kershner served as a Visiting Professor and Research Associate at the [[Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities]] (MITH) at the [[University of Maryland, College Park]], where he also provided cinematography training.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mith.umd.edu/research/mined-to-death-documentary-film/ |title='Mined to Death' Documentary Film |work=[[Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities]] |access-date=February 18, 2017 |date=January 2003 |first=Regina |last=Harrison}}</ref> He and the founding director [[Martha Nell Smith]] remained close and he served as her advisor until the end of his life.
In fall 2002, spring 2003, fall 2004, and spring 2004, Kershner served as a Visiting Professor and Research Associate at the [[Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities]] (MITH) at the [[University of Maryland, College Park]], where he also provided cinematography training.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://mith.umd.edu/research/mined-to-death-documentary-film/ |title='Mined to Death' Documentary Film |work=[[Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities]] |access-date=February 18, 2017 |date=January 2003 |first=Regina |last=Harrison}}</ref> He and the founding director [[Martha Nell Smith]] remained close and he served as her advisor until the end of his life.

== Personal life ==
Kershner was the son of Jewish immigrants,<ref name="nyt">{{cite web |author=Weber, Bruce |date=November 29, 2010 |title=Irvin Kershner, Hollywood Director, Dies at 87 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/movies/30kershner.html?scp=2&sq=irvin%20kershner&st=cse |access-date=December 21, 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> but considered himself an [[:wikt:internationalist|internationalist]], saying: "I've been a student of [[Christianity]]. I've been interested in the historical basis of the [[Islam|Muslim religion]]. I studied [[Buddhism]]. I don't think of myself as a Jew except by birth, as I don't follow the customs. I'm a Jew because other people consider me so. My pride is in being international."<ref name="p238">{{cite book |author=Arnold, Alan |title=Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of The Making of The Empire Strikes Back |date=1980 |publisher=Sphere Books |isbn=978-0-3452-9075-5 |pages=238}}</ref>

Kershner was married twice, both marriages ended in divorce.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Bruce |date=2010-11-29 |title=Irvin Kershner, Hollywood Director, Dies at 87 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/movies/30kershner.html |access-date=2024-03-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
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=== Film ===
=== Film ===

==== As director ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! Year
! Year
! Title
! Title
!Director
!Producer
! class="unsortable" | Notes
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
| 1958
| 1958
|''[[Stakeout on Dope Street]]''
|''[[Stakeout on Dope Street]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|Also screenwriter
|Also screenwriter
|-
|-
| 1959
| 1959
|''[[The Young Captives]]''
|''[[The Young Captives]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1961
| 1961
|''[[The Hoodlum Priest]]''
|''[[The Hoodlum Priest]]''
|{{yes}}
|[[SIGNIS|OCIC Award]]<br>Nominated- [[Palme d'Or]]
|
|
|-
|-
| 1963
| 1963
|''[[Face in the Rain]]''
|''[[Face in the Rain]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1964
| 1964
|''[[The Luck of Ginger Coffey (film)|The Luck of Ginger Coffey]]''
|''[[The Luck of Ginger Coffey (film)|The Luck of Ginger Coffey]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1966
| 1966
|''[[A Fine Madness]]''
|''[[A Fine Madness]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1967
| 1967
|''[[The Flim-Flam Man]]''
|''[[The Flim-Flam Man]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1970
| 1970
|''[[Loving (1970 film)|Loving]]''
|''[[Loving (1970 film)|Loving]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1972
| 1972
|''[[Up the Sandbox]]''
|''[[Up the Sandbox]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1974
| 1974
|''[[S*P*Y*S]]''
|''[[S*P*Y*S]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1976
| 1976
|''[[The Return of a Man Called Horse]]''
|''[[The Return of a Man Called Horse]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1978
| 1978
|''[[Eyes of Laura Mars]]''
|''[[Eyes of Laura Mars]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|
|-
|-
| 1980
| 1980
|''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]''
|''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]''
|{{yes}}
|[[Saturn Award for Best Director]]<br>[[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation]]
|
|
|-
|-
| 1983
| 1983
|''[[Never Say Never Again]]''
|''[[Never Say Never Again]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1988
|[[Wildfire (1988 film)|''Wildfire'']]
|
|{{partial|Executive}}
|
|
|-
|-
| 1990
| 1990
|''[[RoboCop 2]]''
|''[[RoboCop 2]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1997
|''[[American Perfekt]]''
|
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2009
|''[[The Lost Tribe (2010 film)|The Lost Tribe]]''
|
|{{Partial|Executive}}
|
|
|}
|}


==== As actor ====
==== Acting roles ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
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|Statistics Professor
|Statistics Professor
|(final film role)
|(final film role)
|}

==== As producer ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1988
|[[Wildfire (1988 film)|''Wildfire'']]
|[[Zalman King]]
|Executive
|-
| 1997
|''[[American Perfekt]]''
|[[Paul Chart]]
|
|-
| 2009
|''[[The Lost Tribe (2010 film)|The Lost Tribe]]''
|[[Roel Reiné]]
|Executive
|}
|}


Line 199: Line 232:
! class="unsortable" | Notes
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
| 1953–58
| 1955
|''Confidential File''
|''Confidential File''
| 11 episodes; also co-creator
| Episode: "Horror Comic Books"
|-
|-
| 1959
| 1959
Line 218: Line 251:
| Episode: "My Good Friend Krikor"
| Episode: "My Good Friend Krikor"
|-
|-
| 1962–63
| 1962–1963
|''[[Naked City (TV series)|Naked City]]''
|''[[Naked City (TV series)|Naked City]]''
| 2 episodes
| 2 episodes
Line 229: Line 262:
|''[[Raid on Entebbe (film)|Raid on Entebbe]]''
|''[[Raid on Entebbe (film)|Raid on Entebbe]]''
|[[Television film]]
|[[Television film]]
Nominated- [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Special Program]]
|-
|-
| 1986
| 1986
Line 249: Line 281:
* 1997: [[Laurent Bouzereau]]: ''Star Wars. The Annotated Screenplays.'' (contributor) {{ISBN|0-345-40981-7}}.
* 1997: [[Laurent Bouzereau]]: ''Star Wars. The Annotated Screenplays.'' (contributor) {{ISBN|0-345-40981-7}}.


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and honors==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
* Winner, Lifetime Career Award – [[Saturn Awards]] (2010)
|-
* Winner, Director of Achievement – Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (2002)
! Institution
* Winner, Best Director, ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' – [[Saturn Awards]] (1980)
! Year
* Winner, Best Dramatic Presentation, ''The Empire Strikes Back'' – [[Hugo Awards]] (1980)
! class="unsortable" | Category
* Nominee, Best Director, Special Program-Drama, ''[[Raid on Entebbe (film)|Raid on Entebbe]]'' – [[Emmy Awards]] (1976)
!Work
* Winner, OCIC Award, ''[[The Hoodlum Priest]]'' – [[Cannes Film Festival]] (1961)
!Result
* Nominee, Palme d'Or, ''The Hoodlum Priest'' – Cannes Film Festival (1961)
|-

| rowspan="2" | [[Cannes Film Festival]]
| rowspan="2" |[[1961 Cannes Film Festival|1961]]
| [[Palme d'Or]]
| rowspan="2" |[[The Hoodlum Priest|''The Hoodlum Priest'']]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[SIGNIS|OCIC Award]]
|{{won}}
|-
|Fort Lauderdale International Film Fesitval
|2002
|President's Award for Director of Achievement
|{{N/A}}
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Hugo Award]]
|1981
|[[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Best Dramatic Presentation]]
|[[The Empire Strikes Back|''The Empire Strikes Back'']]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
|[[29th Primetime Emmy Awards|1977]]
|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Directing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy]]
|[[Raid on Entebbe (film)|''Raid on Entebbe'']]
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Saturn Awards|Saturn Award]]
|[[8th Saturn Awards|1981]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|''The Empire Strikes Back''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[36th Saturn Awards|2010]]
| Lifetime Career Award
|{{N/A}}
|{{won}}
|}
==References==
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
Line 289: Line 359:
[[Category:The Empire Strikes Back]]
[[Category:The Empire Strikes Back]]
[[Category:USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni]]
[[Category:USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni]]
[[Category:1980s Italian films]]

Revision as of 20:57, 10 March 2024

Irvin Kershner
Born
Isadore Kershner

(1923-04-29)April 29, 1923
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedNovember 27, 2010(2010-11-27) (aged 87)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materTemple University
USC School of Cinematic Arts
Occupations
  • Director
  • actor
Years active1952–2009
Children2

Irvin Kershner (born Isadore Kershner; April 29, 1923 – November 27, 2010) was an American film and television director, actor, and a film lecturer at the University of Southern California.[1]

He began his career as a documentarian, before becoming known as a director of offbeat, humanistic dramas and comedies.[1] He later transitioned to directing high-budget blockbusters such as the Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the James Bond film Never Say Never Again (1983), and the science-fiction action film sequel RoboCop 2 (1990).

Through the course of his career, he received several accolades. He won a Saturn Award for Best Director and a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for The Empire Strikes Back, and was nominated at various times for a Primetime Emmy Award and the Cannes Film Festival's prestigious Palme d'Or.

Between 2002 and 2004, he served as a Visiting Professor and Research Associate at the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH).[2]

Early life and education

Irvin Kershner was born in Philadelphia, to Russian-Jewish parents. They were born in Talne, Russian Empire.[3] His artistic and cultural background was a mixture of music and art. The study of music (violin, viola and composition) was the most important activity of his early years.[4] He attended Temple University's Tyler School of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Later, he went to New York and Provincetown to study with the famous painting teacher Hans Hofmann. He then moved to Los Angeles where he studied photography at the Art Center College of Design.[5]

During World War II, Kershner served three years with the U.S. Eighth Air Force as a flight engineer.[6] He later began his film career at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, teaching photography and taking cinema courses under Slavko Vorkapić, a montage artist and then-dean of the School. Kershner then accepted a job as still photographer on a State Department film project in Iran under the Point Four Program, which ultimately led to an assignment as a director and cinematographer of documentaries in Iran, Greece and Turkey with the United States Information Service.

Career

When he returned to the States, he and Paul Coates developed Confidential File, a documentary television series. Kershner worked as writer, director, cinematographer and editor. He later developed and directed the television series The Rebel (1959–61), as well as the pilots for Peyton Place, Cain's Hundred, Philip Marlowe, and others.[7]

He then moved on to feature films. His debut film was the 1958 crime drama Stakeout on Dope Street, produced by Roger Corman. His 1961 biopic of Jesuit priest Dismas Clark, The Hoodlum Priest, earned critical acclaim and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival.

His subsequent films included: The Luck of Ginger Coffey (with Robert Shaw and Mary Ure); A Fine Madness (with Sean Connery, Joanne Woodward, and Jean Seberg); The Flim-Flam Man (starring Michael Sarrazin, George C. Scott and Sue Lyon); Loving (with George Segal and Eva Marie Saint); Up the Sandbox (with Barbra Streisand); The Return of a Man Called Horse (starring Richard Harris); the critically acclaimed TV movie Raid on Entebbe (a true-life drama which was nominated for nine Emmys, including Best Direction); and the supernatural thriller Eyes of Laura Mars (starring Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee Jones).[8]

The Empire Strikes Back

Kershner directed The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the sequel of the 1977 hit film Star Wars.[9] Writer-producer George Lucas knew Kershner as a teacher in the film program at USC School of Cinematic Arts.[10] Kershner was a surprising choice in directing the film. According to Kershner himself, he once asked Lucas: "Of all the younger guys around, all the hot-shots, why me?" Lucas replied: "Well, because you know everything a Hollywood director is supposed to know, but you're not Hollywood."[11]

Kershner, who was an appealing directorial candidate to Lucas because of his concern for character development, was at first reluctant to direct the film.[12] When asked by Lucas to work on the project over lunch, Kershner refused. Kershner's agent was told about the meeting and encouraged him to take the job. Kershner later discussed his motivations: "I was grabbed by the fairytale which Lucas invented and wanted to be part of keeping it alive."[13] Of his cinematic style, Kershner has said: "I like to fill up the frame with the characters' faces. There's nothing more interesting than the landscape of the human face".[14]

Kershner turned down a chance to direct Return of the Jedi (1983), having spent almost three years of work on The Empire Strikes Back. Richard Marquand was eventually chosen to direct the third film in the original trilogy. Kershner stated, in retrospect, that he would have accepted an offer to direct one of the films of the Star Wars prequel trilogy had they been produced sooner, as Lucas originally estimated the first of them to be ready for release in 1988 rather than in 1999.[12]

Later work

Kershner had projects that he was going to be involved with in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He signed on to direct an adaptation of I, Robot from a script by Harlan Ellison, which was never filmed.[15] Later, he was initially hired by producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown to direct an adaptation of Eric Van Lustbader's novel The Ninja from scripts by W.D. Richter and Tom Cole, but the project was cancelled following months of pre-production.[16]

After Empire Strikes Back, Kershner directed Never Say Never Again (Sean Connery's return to the role of James Bond), the HBO film Traveling Man (starring John Lithgow and Jonathan Silverman, this film earned Kershner an ACE Award nomination), and RoboCop 2. He also directed the pilot of the television series seaQuest DSV, and he made his debut as an actor in the Martin Scorsese film The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), in which he played Zebedee, the father of the apostles James and John. He played a film director in Steven Seagal's On Deadly Ground. He was a faculty member at the Master of Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California.[17] In 2000, he was a member of the jury at the 22nd Moscow International Film Festival.[18]

In fall 2002, spring 2003, fall 2004, and spring 2004, Kershner served as a Visiting Professor and Research Associate at the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH) at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he also provided cinematography training.[2] He and the founding director Martha Nell Smith remained close and he served as her advisor until the end of his life.

Personal life

Kershner was the son of Jewish immigrants,[19] but considered himself an internationalist, saying: "I've been a student of Christianity. I've been interested in the historical basis of the Muslim religion. I studied Buddhism. I don't think of myself as a Jew except by birth, as I don't follow the customs. I'm a Jew because other people consider me so. My pride is in being international."[20]

Kershner was married twice, both marriages ended in divorce.[21]

Death

Kershner died on November 27, 2010, at his home in Los Angeles, after a 3+1⁄2-year battle with lung cancer.[6][19] Kershner had been working on photographic projects before his death.[22] He was looked after by his two sons, David and Dana.[19]

Filmography

Film

Year Titel Director Producer Notes
1958 Stakeout on Dope Street Yes Also screenwriter
1959 The Young Captives Yes
1961 The Hoodlum Priest Yes
1963 Face in the Rain Yes
1964 The Luck of Ginger Coffey Yes
1966 A Fine Madness Yes
1967 The Flim-Flam Man Yes
1970 Loving Yes
1972 Up the Sandbox Yes
1974 S*P*Y*S Yes
1976 The Return of a Man Called Horse Yes
1978 Eyes of Laura Mars Yes
1980 The Empire Strikes Back Yes
1983 Never Say Never Again Yes
1988 Wildfire Executive
1990 RoboCop 2 Yes
1997 American Perfekt Yes
2009 The Lost Tribe Executive

Acting roles

Year Titel Role Director Notes
1988 The Last Temptation of Christ Zebedee Martin Scorsese
1990 RoboCop 2 Gerber Himself Uncredited
1994 On Deadly Ground Walters Steven Seagal
1995 Angus Mr. Stoff Patrick Read Johnson
2003 Manhood Gentleman Bobby Roth
2005 Berkeley Statistics Professor (final film role)

Television director

Year Titel Notes
1953–58 Confidential File 11 episodes; also co-creator
1959 Now Is Tomorrow Television film
1959–61 The Rebel 35 episodes
1961 Cain's Hundred Episode: "Degrees of Guilt"
Ben Casey Episode: "My Good Friend Krikor"
1962–63 Naked City 2 episodes
1963 Kraft Suspense Theatre Episode: "The End of the World, Baby"
1977 Raid on Entebbe Television film
1986 Amazing Stories Episode: "Hell Toupee"
1989 Traveling Man Television film
1993 SeaQuest DSV Episode: "To Be or Not to Be"

Bibliography

  • 1980: Alan Arnold: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back (contributor). ISBN 0-345-29075-5.
  • 1997: Laurent Bouzereau: Star Wars. The Annotated Screenplays. (contributor) ISBN 0-345-40981-7.

Awards and honors

Institution Year Kategorie Work Result
Cannes Film Festival 1961 Palme d'Or The Hoodlum Priest Nominated
OCIC Award Won
Fort Lauderdale International Film Fesitval 2002 President's Award for Director of Achievement — Won
Hugo Award 1981 Best Dramatic Presentation The Empire Strikes Back Won
Primetime Emmy Awards 1977 Outstanding Directing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy Raid on Entebbe Nominated
Saturn Award 1981 Best Director The Empire Strikes Back Won
2010 Lifetime Career Award — Won

References

  1. ^ a b "USC Cinematic Arts | School of Cinematic Arts News". cinema.usc.edu. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Harrison, Regina (January 2003). "'Mined to Death' Documentary Film". Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  3. ^ Barson, Michael. "Biography – Irvin Kershner, American director". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  4. ^ Myers, Joseph (December 9, 2010). "In Memoriam: Irvin Kershner joins the Force". South Philly Review. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  5. ^ "USC Cinematic Arts | School of Cinematic Arts News". cinema.usc.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b McLellan, Dennis (November 30, 2010). "Irvin Kershner dies at 87; film director". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  7. ^ "Acclaimed Director Irvin Kershner Passes". Television Academy. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Irvin Kershner". www.tcm.com. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "Famed Jewish Hollywood director, Irvin Kershner, dies at 87". Haaretz. The Associated Press. November 29, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  10. ^ "George Lucas Mourns the Death of His Friend, Colleague, and Mentor Irving Kershner". Collider. November 30, 2010.
  11. ^ Nashawaty, Chris (November 29, 2010). "'Empire Strikes Back' director Irvin Kershner: An appreciation". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  12. ^ a b Ryan, Mike (October 18, 2010). "In Hindsight, 'Empire Strikes Back' Director Irvin Kershner Would've Helmed One of the Prequels". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  13. ^ Allan, Jani. Fasten your seatbelts! The force is with you again Sunday Times (South Africa). June 1, 1980
  14. ^ Director's commentary on the Empire Strikes Back DVD.
  15. ^ Weil, Ellen; Wolfe, Gary K. (2002). Harlan Ellison: The Edge of Forever. Ohio State University Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-0814250891.
  16. ^ Harmetz, Aljean (April 19, 1983). "Zanuck/Brown Leaving Fox". The New York Times. p. 19. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  17. ^ "In Memoriam: Irvin Kershner". School of Cinematic Arts. University of Southern California. November 30, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  18. ^ "22nd Moscow International Film Festival". Moscow International Film Festival. 2000. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  19. ^ a b c Weber, Bruce (November 29, 2010). "Irvin Kershner, Hollywood Director, Dies at 87". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  20. ^ Arnold, Alan (1980). Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of The Making of The Empire Strikes Back. Sphere Books. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-3452-9075-5.
  21. ^ Weber, Bruce (November 29, 2010). "Irvin Kershner, Hollywood Director, Dies at 87". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  22. ^ Dichiara, Tom (November 27, 2010). "Irvin Kershner, Director Of 'The Empire Strikes Back,' Dies At 87". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
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