Irvin Kershner

Irvin Kershner was born on April 29, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". New York: The H.W. Wilson Company (1988).

A graduate of the University of Southern California film school, Kershner began his career in 1950, producing documentaries for the United States Information Service in the Middle East. He later turned to television, directing and photographing a series of documentaries called "Confidential File".

Kershner was one of the directors given his first break by producer Roger Corman, for whom he shot Stakeout on Dope Street (1958).

Directed the only Star Wars film to use someone other than Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine. The voice he used was Clive Revill, with whom Kershner had previously worked in A Fine Madness (1966)

Kershner had projects that he was going to be involved within the late 1970s and early 1980s. He signed on to direct an adaptation of "I, Robot" from a screenplay by Harlan Ellison, which was never filmed.

Of the three directors to direct the Star Wars films made between 1977 and 1983, the cast and crew have stated that he was their favorite director to work with, describing him as very helpful and supportive.

The main theme that runs through many of his films is social alienation and human weaknesses - although his biggest commercial success was the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

He was awarded the 1981 Saturn Award for Best Director in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Shortly before his death, he was awarded the Lifetime Career Award at the 2010 Saturn Awards.

Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 16th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2003.

To date (2010), only American to direct a James Bond movie--Never Say Never Again (1983)--though the film itself is technically not considered a "true" Bond film. Kershner first directed Sean Connery in A Fine Madness (1966) 17 years earlier.