Richard Marquand

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Richard Marquand
Richard Marquand
Born	22 September 1937(1937-09-22) Llanishen, Cardiff
Died	4 September 1987 (aged 49) Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Occupation	Director

Richard Marquand (22 September, 1937^[1] – 4 September, 1987) was a Welsh film director best known for directing the blockbuster Star Wars film Return of the Jedi (1983).

Marquand was born in Llanishen, Cardiff, the son of Rachel E. (née Rees) and Hilary Marquand, who was a member of Parliament.^[1] He was educated at Emanuel School, the Université d'Aix-Marseille in Marseille, France and King's College, Cambridge. In 1970, he began a career writing and directing for television and motion pictures. His noted films include Birth of The Beatles (1979), Eye of the Needle (1981) and Jagged Edge (1985).

Marquand was chosen by producer George Lucas to direct Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi. In his commentary track on the DVD, Lucas explains that Marquand "had done some great suspense films and was really good with actors. Eye of the Needle was the film I'd seen that he had done that impressed me the most, it was really nicely done and had a lot of energy and suspense". Marquand is the only non-American to have directed a Star Wars movie.

In 1987, Marquand directed Hearts of Fire, a film vehicle for rock icon Bob Dylan. The film was reviewed extremely poorly and went almost straight to video. Four years after the release of Jedi, Marquand died of a stroke in Tunbridge Wells, Kent at the age of 49. His son James Marquand is also a director.

References

External links

• Richard Marquand at the Internet Movie Database