Howard Kazanjian is an American film producer who gained wide popularity after producing several extremely successful Hollywood films – Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Since early childhood, Kazanjian has been attracted to filmmaking. The strong desire to engage in creative work led him to the film school of the University of Southern California. During his study, Kazanjian met George Lucas, the future creator of the Star Wars saga and the Indiana Jones franchise.
After graduation, Kazanjian was hired as First Assistant Director to the renowned film director Alfred Hitchcock. Kazanjian’s cooperation with Hitchcock greatly helped him with his producing career.
In addition to producing Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, Howard Kazanjian worked on other famous films, including The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Demolition Man, and the first season of the legal drama television series JAG.
Kazanjian is now working in California. He also is a former 8-year Vice President of Lucasfilm, which is known best for creating and producing the Indiana Jones and Star Wars franchises. He has an academic degree and is an honorary professor at the University of California. In 1982, Kazanjian was awarded an Emmy Award for producing the film Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
In addition to working in cinema, the producer is engaged in charitable activities: he actively participates in the Armenian charitable and cultural life in the United States. The Washington Post included Kazanjian in the list of most 100 prominent personalities of the 20th century in the US.
