George Lucas

1944 Artist

Page Contents

Biography

The creator of the Star Wars Saga and Indiana Jones series, George Lucas is also the critically acclaimed director of American Graffiti and THX 1138, as well as the producer of a myriad of independent films. In 1971, Lucas formed his own film company, Lucasfilm Ltd., in San Rafael, Calif. In 1973, he co-wrote and directed Graffiti, which won the Golden Globe and garnered five Academy Award nominations. Four years later, his Star Wars broke all box-office records and set new standards for sophistication in film visuals and sound. Lucas continued the Star Wars Saga as storywriter and executive producer with The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Return of the Jedi in 1983. He returned to directing in 1999 with Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, which was the first major live-action film to be projected digitally. Three years later, Episode II Attack of the Clones broke new ground as the first major movie shot using entirely digital media. In 2005, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith concluded the live-action Skywalker arc, but Lucas continues to explore the "galaxy far, far away" as executive producer on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the first project from Lucasfilm Animation. Set between Episodes II and III of the live-action saga, The Clone Wars brings Star Wars to TV in weekly installments.

In 1981, he created the classic adventurer Indiana Jones, and co-wrote and executive-produced the successful series consisting of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), a trilogy that won eight Academy Awards. Later, a television series — The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles — used the iconic character's early adventures to examine historical events of the early 20th century. Nearly 20 years after Indy rode off into the sunset in Last Crusade, Lucas brought the man in the hat back to the big screen in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, for which he wrote the story and served as executive producer.

Lucas has also served as executive producer on such widely varied films as Willow, which was based on his original story and directed by Ron Howard; and Tucker: The Man And His Dream, directed by Francis Coppola. As executive producer, Lucas's films also include Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha (1980); Mishima (1985); Latino (1985); Howard the Duck (1986); Labyrinth (1986); as well as 1994's Radioland Murders. He is currently executive producing Red Tails, a fictional story inspired by the historic and heroic exploits of America's first all black aerial combat unit.

[Source: Lucasfilm website]

Filmography