George Lucas

Lore & Background

Lucas was born in Modesto, California, and grew up interested in comics and science fiction. After a near-fatal car accident in 1962, he abandoned his racing ambitions and pursued filmmaking. He studied at Modesto Junior College and later transferred to the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, where he became part of a clique of film students known as 'The USC Mafia'. After graduating in 1967, he co-founded American Zoetrope with Francis Ford Coppola and moved to San Francisco.

Lucas wrote and directed THX 1138 (1971), a critical success but financial failure, followed by American Graffiti (1973), which was critically and commercially successful and received five Academy Award nominations. His next film, Star Wars (1977), later retitled A New Hope, became the highest-grossing film at the time, winning six Academy Awards and sparking a cultural phenomenon. He produced and co-wrote its sequels and, with Steven Spielberg, created the Indiana Jones series. He later directed the Star Wars prequel trilogy and re-released the original trilogy with modifications in 1997, 2004, and 2011.

Lucas founded multiple philanthropic organizations, including the George Lucas Educational Foundation, which supported broadband funding for schools and libraries. He also plans the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles with his wife, Mellody Hobson. He sold Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company in 2012.

Reader's Guide

George Lucas is one of history's most financially successful filmmakers, having directed or written the story for ten of the 100 highest-grossing movies at the North American box office, adjusted for ticket-price inflation. Through his companies Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound, he was involved in the production of and financially benefited from almost every big-budget film released in the U.S. from the late 1980s until selling to Disney in 2012. Despite his commercial success, he remained an independent filmmaker for most of his career. His work, particularly the Star Wars franchise, reshaped the film industry and popular culture, establishing the modern blockbuster model. He received two Emmy Awards and nominations for four Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. His philanthropic efforts, especially in education and the arts, further cement his legacy beyond filmmaking.

Did You Know?

• Lucas was inspired to pursue filmmaking after a near-fatal car accident in 1962 ended his racing ambitions.
• He co-founded American Zoetrope with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola after graduating from USC.
• Lucas's film Star Wars (1977) became the highest-grossing film at the time and won six Academy Awards.
• He founded the George Lucas Educational Foundation, which supported broadband funding for schools and libraries.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"George Walton Lucas Jr. (born 14 May 1944) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and entrepreneur, most famous for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies." — George Lucas "The Johnson film wasn't terrible. I just didn't agree with the politics. I'm not a fan of big government and propaganda films are distasteful." — George Lucas "Don't avoid the cliches — they are cliches because they work!" — George Lucas "Sound is half the experience of seeing a film. That's why I have been bothered by the poor sound re-production in many theaters and most homes." — George Lucas