In a statement, his family said he died of cancer. Kurtz worked with George Lucas on American Graffiti, the original Star Wars and its first sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. His other films included The Dark Crystal and Return to Oz.
Born in Los Angeles in 1940, Kurtz started out as an assistant director on Ride in the Whirlwind, a 1965 Western starring a pre-stardom Jack Nicholson. After serving in the Marines in Vietnam, he began a collaboration with Lucas that saw him become an early champion of his nascent Star Wars saga.
The Dark Crystal, a fantasy adventure featuring elaborate puppets, saw him work with Muppets creator Jim Henson. The 1982 film was Bafta-nominated for its special effects. But his next films, 1985’s Return to Oz and 1989’s Slipstream, were not a success and led to him filing for bankruptcy.
