8 Things You Didn’t Know About George Lucas2

By Joy Williams

8 Things You Didn’t Know About George Lucas

George Lucas has fulfilled the dreams of millions with his space adventures and countless special effects feats. Between the Star Wars franchise and the adventures of archeologist Indiana Jones, Lucas has covered earth and sky with imaginative ideas brought to cinematic life like few others have in the history of motion pictures.

He has inspired filmmakers to create fantasy realms like James Cameron’s Avatar, and he has inspired viewers to search for adventure just like the iconic Indiana Jones.

We know so much about what lives in the imagination of George Lucas, but how much do we know about the man himself?

1. George gave Suzanne “ThighMaster” Somers her first screen credit.

His 1973 film, American Graffiti, launched a national craze about the 1950s. It also featured Suzanne Somers as “Blonde in T-Bird.”

READ: 10 Pieces of Exercise Equipment You Might Buy At 3am – #1 ThighMaster

2. George is not all geek.

He was behind a camera for the making of Gimme Shelter, the classic Rolling Stones concert movie.

3. George is the father of Powerhouse.

He adopted three children. Daughter Amanda is a mixed martial arts fighter. Her fighter name is Powerhouse.

4. If not for a car accident, we wouldn’t have Star Wars.

His original goal was to become a racecar driver. An automobile accident, in his senior year of high school, resulted in a change in his career trajectory.

5. He has a need for speed.

His efforts to join the Air Force were rejected because he had racked up so many speeding tickets.

6. Taxi Driver’s teenage prostitute was next in line for the role of Princess Leia.

Jodie Foster was his second choice to play Princess Leia.

7. He owes his big break to a singing leprechaun and a stolen pot of gold.

Because of the success of his short film THX 1138, Warner Bros. Studios awarded Lucas a scholarship wherein he could observe and work on any film. He chose Francis Ford Coppola’s Finian’s Rainbow, a story about a man on the run with a stolen pot of gold. Warner Bros. and Francis Ford Coppola would go on to produce Lucas’ first film, the full-length version of THX 1138.

8. He owes Steven Spielberg money.

College pals, Spielberg and Lucas both released movies in 1977 – Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Star Wars, respectively. Each thought the other had the better movie. In order to guarantee success, each gave the other a percentage of the profits of their movie. Must be nice.

Joy Williams is a freelance writer and interviewer who works in the entertainment industry. She holds a degree in English from an East Coast university.