Marcia Lucas, the woman dubbed the ‘secret weapon’ of Star Wars – and ex-wife of director George Lucas – dies aged 80
Marcia Lucas, the film editor tipped as the “secret weapon” of Star Wars and ex-wife of George Lucas, has died at the age of 80, following a battle with cancer.
The late Oscar-winner died earlier this week while at her home in Rancho Mirage, California. Her family lawyer confirmed the news in a statement.
“Marcia will be remembered as a brilliant storyteller, a trailblazer for women in film, a loving mother and grandmother, a generous host, and a loyal friend whose humour and sparkle filled every room she entered,” they said.
“Her influence on film is indelible, but those who knew her best will remember the way she made life feel more vivid, more beautiful, more fun, and more full of love.”
The message, shared with Variety, added: “Her work was known for its emotional intelligence, rhythm, and humanity – a rare ability to find the truth of a scene and bring heart, momentum, and clarity to the screen.”
California native Marcia began her extraordinary Hollywood career as a film librarian before landing a role as an assistant to iconic film editor Verna Fields in 1967. It was here that she first met George and they went on to get married two years later.
The pair went on to work together throughout their relationship, and she was hired as an assistant director on THX 1138 – her former husband’s feature directorial debut. She also co-edited his 1973 hit, American Graffiti, and was nominated for an Oscar for her efforts.
She continued to work alongside George on his hugely successful Star Wars flick in 1977 – which she went on to win the Oscar for – and played a huge role in how the story shaped out. Discussing her work, the director told Rolling Stone that Obi-Wan Kenobi’s pivotal death came from Marcia herself.
“It was extremely complex and we had 40,000 feet of dialogue footage of pilots saying this and that. And she had to cull through all that, and put in all the fighting as well,” he recalled. “Nobody really has ever tried to interweave an actual plot story into a dogfight, and we were trying to do that.
“The more I thought about Ben getting killed the more I liked the idea because, one, it made the threat of Vader greater and that tied in with The Force and the fact that he could use the dark side.”
Marcia went on to edit Return of the Jedi in 1983, which was released in the same year that the couple – who share daughter Amanda – announced their divorce.
“Being married to somebody in the film business helps,” he told Rolling Stone of their connection shortly before Return of the Jedi was released. “She worked on this film, and she worked on a number of the other films.
“There’s a collaboration; we’d never have been able to survive otherwise. I don’t know that many people in the film business who have managed to make it work. It’s been very hard on Marcia, living with somebody who is constantly in agony, uptight and worried, off in never-never land.”
Marcia went on to marry production manager Tom Rodrigues, and welcomed daughter Amy together, before their marriage ended in 1993.
She is survived by her daughters Amanda Lucas and Amy Soper, and grandchildren Felix Hallikainen, Aeliana Hallikainen, and Knox Soper.
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