Gary Kurtz (born July 27 1940 in Los Angeles, California) is a two time Academy Award nominated film producer whose list of credits include American Graffiti, Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. He later produced The Dark Crystal and Return to Oz after departing from the Star Wars series. Kurtz also co-produced the 1989 low-budget science fiction film Slipstream, which reunited him with Star Wars star Mark Hamill.
Father of Melissa Kurtz and Tiffany L. Kurtz
Child with Roberta Jimenez Kurtz - Dylan Antony Kurtz
Came up with the title for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
He took over John Barry (III)'s second unit duties after his sudden death on the set of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) until his replacement Harley Cokeliss arrived. Kurtz directed the scene in which Luke flees the Wampa cave.
Lost much of his accumulated fortune investing in two movies which failed at the box office: Dark Crystal, The (1982) and Return to Oz (1985). He filed for bankruptcy in 1985.
