Marcia Lucas, Oscar-Winning Editor Behind 'Star Wars,' Dies at 80

4 hours ago

Marcia Lucas, Oscar-winning film editor for Star Wars and ex-wife of George Lucas, has died at 80 from cancer.
She began her career via the Motion Picture Editors Guild apprenticeship and worked with Verna Fields, meeting George Lucas while assisting her.
Lucas was assistant editor on THX 1138, co-edited American Graffiti (earning an Oscar nomination), and won an Oscar for editing Star Wars.
She contributed significantly to Star Wars, including editing the complex final battle sequence and suggesting Darth Vader kill Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Lucas also worked with Martin Scorsese on films like Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and supervised edits for Taxi Driver and New York, New York.
She edited Return of the Jedi, her final credited film, released in the year she and George divorced, focusing on emotional scenes.
Described as a brilliant storyteller and trailblazer for women in film, she is survived by two daughters and grandchildren.

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