born May 14, 1944, Modesto, Calif., U.S.
Film director and producer.
He studied filmmaking at the University of Southern California. His first feature film, THX 1138 (1971), was followed by the surprise success American Graffiti (1973). He wrote and directed the immensely popular science-fiction movie Star Wars (1977), which made innovative use of computerized special effects. He formed the production company Lucasfilms (1978), its special-effects division Industrial Light and Magic, and produced the Star Wars sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and The Return of the Jedi (1993), as well as Steven Spielberg 's Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and its sequels. He returned to directing with the first Star Wars "prequel," The Phantom Menace (1999), which was followed by other films in the series.