Irvin Kershner Has Died   
   Empire Strikes Back director was 87   
       
   Irvin Kershner - the man who gave us some of the most indelible moments in   
   cinema history with The Empire Strikes Back - has died. He was 87.   
       
   Kersh, as he was fondly known, died at his home following a long illness.   
       
   He was, of course, best known for directing The Empire Strikes Back, arguably   
   the greatest chapter in the Star Wars saga (and which celebrates its thirtieth   
   anniversary this year). But Kershner also made contributions to other   
   franchises, directing RoboCop 2 and Sean Connery's last appearance as James   
   Bond in the 'unofficial' 007 flick, Never Say Never Again.   
       
   Having fought in World War II, Kershner began his career by teaching film at   
   the University of Southern California, but quickly made the move behind the   
   camera via a detour as a stills photographer and TV director, calling the   
   shots on Stakeout On Dope Street in 1958.   
       
   A decent career followed, in which he directed the likes of Sean Connery in A   
   Fine Madness, Richard Harris in The Return Of A Man Called Horse, and Faye   
   Dunaway in 1978's Eyes Of Laura Mars (based on John Carpenter's screenplay).   
       
   It was this movie that persuaded George Lucas, looking for someone to take the   
   reins on his Star Wars sequel, to approach Kershner to direct The Empire   
   Strikes Back. The rest is movie history: Kershner's no-frills storytelling   
   style, coupled with a strong script and an imaginative visual pallet, gave   
   Empire a gravitas that marked it out as an instant classic.   
       
   Kershner only directed twice more on film, with Never Say Never Again and   
   Robocop 2, but he also made a habit of appearing in films, showing up in   
   Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation Of Christ and, of all places, Steven   
   Seagal's On Deadly Ground.   
       
   His last contribution to film was a cameo as Statistics Professor in the 2005   
   film, Berkeley - but Kershner's unmistakeable contribution to film history had   
   already been made. For Yoda, for Vader telling Luke, "I am your father", for   
   Cloud City, for Lando, for the battle of Hoth, for the asteroid field chase,   
   for Boba Fett, for Lobot, for Wampas, for Tauntauns, for "I thought they smelt   
   bad... on the outside!", for "I love you"/"I know", for Chewie screaming in   
   pain as Han is frozen in carbonite, and for the Empire striking back, we'll   
   never forget the legendary Irvin Kershner. Rest in peace, Kersh.   
       
   Chris Hewitt   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.57   
    * Origin: NCS BBS -Houma, LA- (1:3828/7)