Lawrence Kasdan

Biography

Lawrence Edward Kasdan (born January 14, 1949) is an American filmmaker. He is the co-writer of the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), The Force Awakens (2015), and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). He also wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and The Bodyguard (1992), and is the writer-director of Body Heat (1981), The Big Chill (1983), Silverado (1985), The Accidental Tourist (1988), and Dreamcatcher (2003). Kasdan is known for updating old Hollywood genres—film noir, science fiction, and Westerns—in a classical dramatic style with quick-witted dialogue while dealing with contemporary social themes. As a director, he has made various personal films that examine characters and generations. Kasdan has been nominated for four Academy Awards: as a producer for Best Picture nominee The Accidental Tourist, for which he was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and for Best Original Screenplay for both The Big Chill and Grand Canyon (1991). He has often collaborated with his wife, Meg Kasdan, his brother, Mark Kasdan, and his two sons, Jonathan Kasdan and Jake Kasdan. He has frequently cast Kevin Kline and William Hurt in his films. Descrip…

Movies & TV Shows

1. As Good as It Gets (1997) — Dr. Green
2. Wyatt Earp (1994) — Gambler
3. Into the Night (1985) — Detective #2
4. Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (2004) — Self
5. The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004) — Self
6. Music by John Williams (2024) — Self - Filmmaker
7. Five Came Back (2017) — Self
8. Five Came Back (2017) — Self
9. Marty, Life Is Short (2026) — Self (voice)
10. Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford (2023) — Self
11. Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool (2005) — Self
12. Indiana Jones: Making the Trilogy (2003) — self
13. Film '72 (1971) — Self
14. Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven' (2000) — Self
15. All of What Follows Is True: The Making of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' (2006) — Self
16. The Big Chill: A Reunion (1999) — Self - Writer, Director, Executive Producer
17. 100 Greatest Sexy Moments (2003) — Self
18. The Force Is with Them: The Legacy of 'Star Wars' (2004) — Self
19. John Williams: The Seventh Symphony (2016) — Self
20. Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery (1997) — Self
21. Männer im Trenchcoat, Frauen im Pelz (2004) — Self
22. The Making of Silverado (1999) — Self
23. A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2011) — Self
24. Kasdan on Kasdan (2018) — Self

Directed

1. Dreamcatcher (2003) — Director
2. Wyatt Earp (1994) — Director
3. Silverado (1985) — Director
4. French Kiss (1995) — Director
5. Body Heat (1981) — Director
6. The Big Chill (1983) — Director
7. I Love You to Death (1990) — Director
8. The Accidental Tourist (1988) — Director
9. Grand Canyon (1991) — Director
10. Mumford (1999) — Director
11. Darling Companion (2012) — Director
12. LIGHT & MAGIC (2022) — Director
13. Marty, Life Is Short (2026) — Director
14. Last Week at Ed's (2019) — Director
15. November Road — Director