Irvin Kershner

At 87 years old, Irvin Kershner has this physical status:

Irvin Kershner (born Isadore Kershner; 1923-2010) was an American filmmaker, actor, and television producer. When working as an influential lecturer at the University of Southern California, he gained attention early in his career as a filmmaker for directing eccentric, independent drama films.

He moved to high-budget blockbusters such as The Empire Strikes Back, The James Bond film Never Say Never Again, and RoboCop 2.

He has received numerous accolades throughout his career, and has been nominated for both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Palme d'Or.

Early life

Irvin Kershner was born in Philadelphia to Russian-Jewish parents. They were born in Kyiv, Russian Empire. His artistic and cultural experience was a mash-up of music and art. The study of music (violin, viola, and composition) was the most important activity of his early years. He attended Temple University's Tyler School of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Later, he returned to New York and Provincetown to study with Hans Hofmann, a well-known painting instructor. He then migrated to Los Angeles, where he studied photography at the Art Center College of Design.

Kershner served with the United States Eighth Air Force as a flight engineer during World War II. He began his film career at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, teaching photography and attending cinema classes under Slavko Vorkapi, a montage artist and then dean of the School. Kershner began working as a still photographer on a State Department film project in Iran under the Point Four Initiative, which led to an assignment as a director and cinematographer of documentaries in Iran, Greece, and Turkey with the United States Information Service.

Paul Coates (1921–1968) and his son, David Coates (1921–1968) created Confidential File, a documentary television series. Kershner worked as writer, producer, cinematographer, and editor. He later created and directed The Rebel (1959–61), as well as the pilots for Peyton Place, Cain's Hundred, Philip Marlowe, and others.

He then moved to feature films, including Hoodlum Priest (starring Don Murray); The Luck of Ginger Coffey (starring Richard Harris); A Fine Madness (starring George Segal and Mary Seberg); and Loving (starring Barbara Legg); and The Return of a Man Called Horse (starring George Segal and Mary Ure): The sequel to Elam Boy (starring Robert Shaw and Michael Seberg); and The Return of a Man Called Horse (starring George Segal and Juliette Jones);

Kershner's uncle was a resident of Israel. "I've been a student of Christianity," he said. I've been curious about the Islamic tradition's historical roots. I studied Buddhism. Except by birth, I don't think of myself as a Jew, as I do not follow the traditions. Since some people regard me as a Jew, I'm a Jew. My pride comes from being global.

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Awards and nominations

• Winner, Lifetime Career Award – Saturn Awards (2010)
• Winner, Director of Achievement – Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (2002)
• Winner, Best Director, The Empire Strikes Back – Saturn Awards (1980)
• Winner, Best Dramatic Presentation, The Empire Strikes Back – Hugo Awards (1980)
• Nominee, Best Director, Special Program-Drama, Raid on Entebbe – Emmy Awards (1976)
• Winner, OCIC Award, Hoodlum Priest – Cannes Film Festival (1961)
• Nominee, Palme d'Or, Hoodlum Priest – Cannes Film Festival (1961)