EMPIRE STRIKES BACK DIRECTOR DEAD AT 87

Irvin Kershner, best known as the director of the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back, has died in Los Angeles after a long illness at the age of 87. In a statement, George Lucas, who reportedly hired Kershner after being impressed with his work on The Eyes of Laura Mars, said that he had selected him because “I didn’t want Empire to turn into just another sequel, another episode in a series of space adventures. … I was trying to build something.” Empire is regared by many Star Wars fans as the best of all the sequels and prequels. Kershner’s other credits include Robocop 2 and Never Say Never Again.