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Irvin Kershner

Highest Rated: 100% The Hoodlum Priest (1961)

Lowest Rated: 14% On Deadly Ground (1994)

Birthday: Apr 29, 1923

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Photography and art were the launching pads for director Irvin Kershner's career; he studied both extensively as well as tackled documentaries in the 1950s before making his feature debut with "Stakeout on Dope Street" (1958), a gritty crime drama for producer Roger Corman, which in turn led to numerous jobs on episodic television and in more independent features. Kershner's feature work was distinguished by his ability to mine realistic and intimate human drama from his stories, and for finding idiosyncratic takes on nearly every genre - from comedies like "A Fine Madness" (1966) and intimate dramas such as "Loving" (1970), to horror flicks like "The Eyes of Laura Mars" (1978) and historical adventures including "The Return of a Man Called Horse" (1976). His biggest box office success was the "Star Wars" sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980), which benefited greatly from his mature direction. Kershner also maintained side careers as a producer, educator and occasional actor, but it was his work helming the darkest and most critically lauded of the "Star Wars" trilogy that would be his greatest legacy.

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Highest rated movies

100% 75% The Hoodlum Priest
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95% 97% Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Watchlist
88% 70% Tell Them Who You Are
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82% 84% The Last Temptation of Christ Watchlist
75% 63% The Flim Flam Man
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71% 37% Never Say Never Again
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67% 49% Up the Sandbox
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61% 43% Eyes of Laura Mars
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55% 42% The Return of a Man Called Horse
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33% 33% A Fine Madness
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
88% 70% Tell Them Who You Are Self $38.6K 2004
No Score Yet 59% American Perfekt Producer - 1997
14% 35% On Deadly Ground Walters (Character) $36.0M 1994
28% 37% RoboCop 2 Director $45.4M 1990
No Score Yet 80% Traveling Man Director - 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Wildfire Executive Producer - 1988
82% 84% The Last Temptation of Christ Zebedee (Character) $8.2M 1988
71% 37% Never Say Never Again Director - 1983
95% 97% Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Director $291.9M 1980
61% 43% Eyes of Laura Mars Director - 1978
No Score Yet 64% Raid on Entebbe Director - 1977
55% 42% The Return of a Man Called Horse Director - 1976
No Score Yet 16% S.P.Y.S Director - 1974
67% 49% Up the Sandbox Director - 1972
No Score Yet 32% Loving Director - 1970
75% 63% The Flim Flam Man Director - 1967
33% 33% A Fine Madness Director - 1966
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Luck of Ginger Coffey Director - 1964
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Face in the Rain Director - 1963
100% 75% The Hoodlum Priest Director - 1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Young Captives Director - 1959
No Score Yet No Score Yet Stakeout on Dope Street Director,
Screenwriter
- 1958

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 82% Amazing Stories Director 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ben Casey Director 1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cain's Hundred Director 1961