'Star Wars' & 'The Dark Crystal' Producer Gary Kurtz Passes Away At 78

Award-winning producer of “Star Wars,” “The Dark Crystal,” and “American Graffiti,” Gary Kurtz has passed away at the age of 78 after his battle with cancer, according to a statement from his family.

Gary Kurtz is perhaps one of the biggest unsung heroes of the “Star Wars” franchise. Having worked with director George Lucas on “American Graffiti,” Kurtz was pivotal in launching “Star Wars” back in 1977. And in addition to that, the producer became even more crucial during the making of “The Empire Strikes Back.” However, his relationship with Lucas deteriorated over creative differences and he left the franchise.

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He would then move on to “The Dark Crystal,” which is a classic in the eyes of many people today, as the fantasy film has reached iconic status. He would also produce “Return to Oz” and “Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland.” However, without a doubt, his biggest contributions to the film industry was with Lucas.

In a 2010 interview with the LA Times, Kurtz famously explained why he left the “Star Wars” franchise after clashing with Lucas post-‘Empire,’ saying, “I could see where things were headed. The toy business began to drive the empire. It’s a shame. They make three times as much on toys as they do on films. It’s natural to make decisions that protect the toy business but that’s not the best thing for making quality films.”

He would also speak up about how he was concerned about Lucas’ reliance on happy endings and fun versus the story as it was pitched. Kurtz claims that Lucas brought back the Death Star and the happy ending to “Return of the Jedi,” instead of the more “poignant” ending that was originally planned, all because of merchandising.

He also was very vocal about the Prequel Trilogy, saying in the same 2010 interview, “I don’t like the idea of prequels, they make the filmmakers back in to material they’ve already covered and it boxes in the story. I think they did a pretty good job with them although I have to admit I never liked Hayden Christensen in the role of Anakin Skywalker. I just wished the stories had been stronger and that the dialogue had been stronger. It gets meek. I’m not sure the characters ever felt real like they did in ‘Empire.'”

In a statement about his passing, his family said, “Gary was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, colleague, and mentor, whose work and talent spanned filmmaking, photography, music, and cinema history. He was a Marine, a world traveler, an outdoorsman, and a kind, compassionate human being. … Gary was a magnificent man, who will be hugely missed. His whole family thanks you for your loving thoughts.”