Marcia Lucas, the film editor who won an Oscar for editing her ex-husband George Lucas’ “Star Wars” and shaped several seminal films of the 1970s, died Wednesday in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 80 years old.
The family’s lawyer confirmed that she died of cancer.
“Marcia will be remembered as a great storyteller, a pioneer for women in film, a loving mother and grandmother, a generous host, and a loyal friend who filled every room she entered with humor and sparkle. Her impact on film will be indelible, but those who knew her well will remember how she made life feel more vivid, more beautiful, more joyful and more loving,” the family statement said. “Her work was known for its emotional intelligence, rhythm, and humanity, a rare ability to find the truth in a scene and bring emotion, momentum, and clarity to the screen.”
Marcia Lucas, who sometimes referred to George Lucas as her “secret weapon,” was nominated for an Oscar for co-editing George Lucas’ American Graffiti, and later won an Oscar for editing Star Wars. She also edited Return of the Jedi, as well as Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Taxi Driver, and New York, New York.
She played a key role in helping shape her husband’s “Star Wars” films. Michael Kaminsky writes in his book The Secret History of Star Wars: “Marcia, along with many of George’s friends, critiqued what characters worked well, what characters didn’t work, and what scenes were good, and that’s how Lucas structured the script. Marcia was always critical of Star Wars, but she was one of the few people Lucas listened to carefully, knowing she had the skill to carve out strong characters.”
George Lucas told Rolling Stone in 1977 that it was her idea to have Obi-Wan Kenobi die on the Death Star. “The more I thought about Ben being killed off, the more I liked the idea of that, because for one thing Vader becomes a bigger threat, and that combines with the Force and the fact that he can tap into the dark side.”
Mark Hamill said in an interview: “I know for a fact that it was Marcia Lucas who convinced Carrie (Fisher) and I to go on with that little ‘good luck kiss’ before we jumped the ditch in the first movie.George Lucas. thought people were laughing at preview screenings, but, according to Hamill, “I was like, ‘George, everyone’s laughing because it’s so sweet and unexpected.’ And her influence was such that if she wanted to keep it, that was in.”
Born Marcia Lou Griffin in Modesto, she grew up in North Hollywood and began working as a film librarian before taking an apprenticeship at the Editors Guild. She met George Lucas when they were both hired to work for legendary editor Verna Field. She married George Lucas in 1969 and was an assistant editor on his first feature film, THX 1138.
They divorced in 1983. Her second marriage, which ended in 1993, was to Tom Rodriguez, who worked as a production manager at Skywalker Ranch.
She is survived by her daughters, Amanda Lucas and Amy Soper; her grandchildren, Felix Harikainen, Aeliana Harikainen, Knox Soper, and her chosen family, Sarah Dyer and John Taylor;
