Irvin Kershner

Biography: After serving as a flight engineer in World War II, Irvin Kershner signed up for art, design and film-related courses at Temple University, Drexel University and USC. From 1953 to 1955, Kershner worked abroad on behalf of the United States Information Service, directing several well-circulated documentaries. His TV work began in 1955 with his direction of the weekly series Confidential File, one of several docudrama projects supervised by LA TV personality Paul Coates. Kershner made his big-screen directorial debut through the auspices of Roger Corman: In its extensive use of actual locations, Stakeout on Dope Street (1958) was a logical extension of the director's years with the USIS and Paul Coates. His first major theatrical feature was The Hoodlum Priest, a fact-based 1961 sleeper produced by and starring Don Murray. He followed this personal success with his direction of the critically applauded Canadian film The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1963). Thereafter, the quality ofAfter serving as a flight engineer in World War II, Irvin Kershner signed up for art, design and film-related courses at Temple University, Drexel University and USC. From 1953 to 1955, Kershner worked abroad on behalf of the United States Information Service, directing several well-circulated documentaries. His TV work began in 1955 with his direction of the weekly series Confidential File, one of several docudrama projects supervised by LA TV personality Paul Coates. Kershner made his big-screen directorial debut through the auspices of Roger Corman: In its extensive use of actual locations, Stakeout on Dope Street (1958) was a logical extension of the director's years with the USIS and Paul Coates. His first major theatrical feature was The Hoodlum Priest, a fact-based 1961 sleeper produced by and starring Don Murray. He followed this personal success with his direction of the critically applauded Canadian film The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1963). Thereafter, the quality of Kirshner's projects fluctuated, though there were more hits than misses: The Flim Flam Man (1967) was a minor but entertaining George C. Scott comedy; Loving (1970) was an excellent study of a disintegrating marriage; and Up the Sandbox (1972) was perhaps Barbra Streisand's most ambitious vehicle up to that time. The director has scored his biggest successes in the field of fantasy/adventure: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Never Say Never Again (1983) and Robocop 2 (1989). In 1988, Irvin Kershner made a rare acting appearance as Zebedee in Martin Scorcese's The Last Temptation of Christ.… Expand