When was Howard Kazanjian born?
Howard Kazanjian was born on the 26th of July 1942, in Los Angeles County, California.
Questions about Howard Kazanjian
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What films is Howard Kazanjian best known for producing?
Kazanjian served as executive producer on Raiders of the Lost Ark and as producer on Return of the Jedi. He was also an uncredited producer on The Empire Strikes Back, taking over after original producer Gary Kurtz left partway through production.
Why did Howard Kazanjian have Return of the Jedi filmed under a fake title?
Kazanjian proposed shooting Return of the Jedi under the fake name Blue Harvest to stop suppliers from price-gouging the crew. The production was disguised as a horror film with the tagline "horror beyond imagination," and crew members wore hats and shirts printed with the fake title.
How did Howard Kazanjian help cast Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones?
Kazanjian campaigned heavily for Harrison Ford during casting for Raiders of the Lost Ark, pushing hard enough that he nearly lost his job over it. He also convinced George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to remove the character's original traits as a smoker and a drinker.
What position did Howard Kazanjian hold at Lucasfilm?
Kazanjian was Lucasfilm's Vice President of Production, one of the company's originating executives. He held the role for roughly eight years, from 1977 to 1984.
What books has Howard Kazanjian written or co-written?
In 2021, Kazanjian published his memoir, Howard Kazanjian: A Producer's Life, compiled with Star Wars historian J.W. Rinzler. With Chris Enss, he also co-wrote several nonfiction books on the Old West, including works on Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, John Wayne, and a true crime story titled Thunder over the Prairie.