Gary Kurtz

Gary Kurtz is a film producer born in Los Angeles, California on July 27th, 1940. He is best known as one of the driving forces behind production on the Star Wars franchise. His earliest works were as a production manager on low-budget sci-fi films such as Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet and Queen of Blood (aka Planet of Vampires). In 1977 he co-produced the first Star Wars film along with franchise creator George Lucas. He also produced the 1980 sequel to Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back. In the early 1980's, Kurtz co-produced The Dark Crystal, a joint venture between Lord Grade and Jim Henson, which was co-directed by Frank Oz.