‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ Producer Robert Watts Has Passed Away at 86
Robert Watts, the producer who helped George Lucas bring some of his biggest films to life, has passed away at the age of 86.
Watts began his film career in the 1960s, working as a production and location manager on a series of now-classic films, including Darling (1965), the James Bond film You Only Live Twice, and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Watt (right) had a cameo in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Photo: Lucasfilm
Subsequently, he continued his work in the sci-fi realm as a production supervisor on Star Wars: A New Hope. From then on, Watts became a frequent collaborator with George Lucas, joining Lucasfilm as an associate producer on The Empire Strikes Back and co-producer on Return of the Jedi.
‘Indiana Jones’ and Work With Spielberg
Outside of the galaxy far, far away, Watts served as an 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.
Watts on the set of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Photo: Lucasfilm
He would also work on other Steven Spielberg projects, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.
Looking back on his time at Lucasfilm, Watts had nothing but good memories.
“I have gained enormous experience because Lucasfilm has been innovative,” Watts explained in the 1980s.
Robert Watts on the set of The Empire Strikes Back
“It has been an enormous experience to work with George and to have worked with Steven Spielberg. I entered as a production manager and leave as a producer. That’s quite different. That gives me, by association, a credibility as I re-enter the freelance world. But one thing I have to re-learn is that all my future films are not going to enter the top ten. I’ve worked on many movies that didn’t make their advertising cost back, let alone the cost of the movie, so it’s been great to work on movies that people actually see.”
Watts’s Final Wish
In a statement to Deadline, Julian Owens, Watt’s representative at Alliance Media, confirmed that the producer had passed.
“Goodnight to my wonderful friend and client, Robert Watts, Producer of some of the most famous films in cinema history. … Talking about his career was his favourite thing to do. We had some amazing adventures together, which I will cherish forever,” he said.
Photo: Lucasfilm
According to Owens, Watts’s final wish was to see Harrison Ford again.
“Robert’s lasting wish was to see Harrison Ford one last time. We were lucky enough to make that a reality last year at the London Premiere of ‘[Indiana Jones and the] Dial of Destiny’ in Leicester Square.”
Tributes Pour In
Following the news of Watts’s passing, Indiana Jones producer Frank Marshall took to social media to pay tribute to his longtime collaborator.
“We have sadly lost another great one, Robert Watts, a producer on ALIVE and many STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES movies,” he wrote. “He was loved by all who worked with him, and I learned a lot from his vast knowledge, wonderful spirit and sense of humor. Sail on, dear friend, sail on.”
We have sadly lost another great one, Robert Watts, a producer on ALIVE and many STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES movies. He was loved by all who worked with him, and I learned a lot from his vast knowledge, wonderful spirit and sense of humor. Sail on, dear friend, sail on.… pic.twitter.com/6Q0ivub9x4
— Frank Marshall (@LeDoctor) October 1, 2024
Lucasfilm also released a statement.
“It’s not an overstatement to say that, without Robert Watts’ involvement, Lucasfilm would be a very different company today,” Kathleen Kennedy said. “Not only did he bring his own skills to the production of several milestone films, but also gave opportunities to so many other important crew members to do so as well.”
L to R: Frank Marshall, Norman Reynolds, Kathleen Kennedy, Watts, and Lawrence Kasdan on the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Photo Lucasfilm.
Robert Watts was 86 years old. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.
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