Jump to content

Robert Watts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Watts
Born(1938-05-23)23 May 1938
London, England
Died30 September 2024(2024-09-30) (aged 86)
East Sussex, England
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1968–1996
RelativesJeremy Bulloch (half brother)
Jamie Bulloch (half nephew)

Robert Watts (23 May 1938 – 30 September 2024)[1][2] was a British film producer who was best known for his involvement with the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film series.[3][4]

Career

[edit]

Watts began working in the film industry in 1960,[5] after two years' National Service.[6] His first film work was as a runner on the Boulting brothers production A French Mistress.[6] Watts earned his union membership during two years as a runner, and later production manager, at a company based at England's Shepperton Studios which made TV commercials and documentaries.[6] He then returned to feature films as a second assistant director on the film Man in the Middle.[6]

During the 1960s, Watts worked extensively as a production manager and location manager, including on Darling (1965) starring Julie Christie and Dirk Bogarde, the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice and Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).[7]

Watts was employed by producer Gary Kurtz as production supervisor on Star Wars. He had met Kurtz several years earlier in Los Angeles.[6][8] Watts then enjoyed a long collaboration with George Lucas and Lucasfilm,[9] working as associate producer on The Empire Strikes Back and co-producer on Return of the Jedi; and as associate producer on Raiders of the Lost Ark and producer on Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He also worked on other Steven Spielberg-presented productions, including as producer on Who Framed Roger Rabbit and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, and with Spielberg's long-term producer Frank Marshall on Marshall's second feature as director, Alive.

Personal life and death

[edit]

Watts was born in London on 23 May 1938.[5] His half brother was Jeremy Bulloch,[6][10] who played Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Watts died at his home in East Sussex, on 30 September 2024, at the age of 86.[11][12][13]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Film Producer Production
manager
Roles
1968 2001: A Space Odyssey No Yes
1970 El Condor No Yes
1973 Papillon No Yes
1977 Star Wars: A New Hope No Yes
1980 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Associate No
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark Associate No
1983 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Co-Producer No Lt. Watts (AT-ST Driver) (uncredited)
1984 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Yes No
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Yes No
1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Yes No
1991 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West Yes No Additional Voices
1993 Alive Yes No
1994 On Deadly Ground Executive No

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Atkins, Josh (1 October 2024). "Robert Watts, Producer on Original 'Star Wars' Trilogy Has Died Aged 86". www.starwarsnewsnet.com.
  2. ^ "Robert Watts Passes Away At 86". www.theforce.net. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Robert Watts, Producer On Original Star Wars Trilogy Has Died Aged 86". thecantina.starwarsnewsnet.com. 1 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Robert Watts, Producer of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Has Died at 86". Comicbook.com. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b Adam Pirani, Robert Watts: Secrets of "The Temple of Doom", Starlog #94, April 1985, pp 23–26,62.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Dennis Pellegrom, Star Wars Interviews: Robert Watts, Co-producer Star Wars. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  7. ^ Stuart Cummins, Interview: Robert Watts, Producer of Star Wars & Indiana Jones, whatculture.com, 25 May 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  8. ^ James Hoare, "Star Wars Interview: Robert Watts", SciFiNow, 25 September 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Robert Watts: 1938-2024". www.lucasfilm.com. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Jeremy Bulloch". Jeremybulloch.com.
  11. ^ Burns, James (1 October 2024). "Robert Watts Has Passed Away, Aged 86". Jedi News. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  12. ^ Barnes, Mike (1 October 2024). "Robert Watts, 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' Producer, Dies at 86". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  13. ^ Pedersen, Erik (1 October 2024). "Robert Watts Dies: 'Star Wars' & 'Indiana Jones' Trilogies Producer Was 86". Deadline.com. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
[edit]