Born in Los Angeles. He began his professional career while still a student at UCLA's film school, working as a cameraman, soundman, actor, production supervisor and assistant director on documentaries and low-budget features for Roger Corman and others. After serving two years as a draftee in the Marines, he became involved in major productions as a George Lucas associate. His other producing credits include STAR WARS: EPISODE V - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980), THE DARK CRYSTAL (1982), RETURN TO OZ (1985, exec. producer), SLIPSTREAM (1989), THE STEAL (1994) and 5-25-77 (2003, w. Fred Roos), a film about a guy who has things get in the way of his seeing STAR WARS.  Nominated for Best Picture 1973: AMERICAN GRAFFITI - Co-producer with Francis Ford Coppola at Lucasfilm/Coppola  ;Nominated for Best Picture 1977: STAR WARS - Producer at 20th Century-Fox 2 nominations