Kathleen Kennedy Bio
Kathleen Kennedy (born June 5, 1953) is an American film producer who has been president of Lucasfilm since 2012. In 1981, Kennedy co-founded the production company Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and her eventual husband Frank Marshall. Her first film as a producer was E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). A decade later, she produced the Jurassic Park franchise, which became two of the top ten highest-grossing films of the 1990s. Kennedy became the president of Lucasfilm in 2012, overseeing many successful projects including the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Early Life and Background
Kathleen Kennedy was born on June 5, 1953, in Berkeley, California, to Donald R. Kennedy, a judge and attorney, and Dione Marie Kennedy, a one-time theater actress. She has two sisters, including a twin sister, Connie, who is now the executive producer of a virtual production company. Kennedy graduated from Shasta High School in Redding, California, in 1971. She continued her education at San Diego State University, where she majored in telecommunications and film. During her final year, she gained employment at a local San Diego TV station, KCST, taking on various roles including camera operator and video editor.
Path to Hollywood
After her employment with KCST, Kathleen Kennedy produced a local talk show for four years before moving to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, she secured her first film production job as an assistant to John Milius, who was the executive producer of Steven Spielberg’s 1941 (1979). While working under Milius, Kennedy caught Spielberg’s attention, who later praised her organizational abilities. She was credited as associate to Spielberg on Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and then as associate producer on Poltergeist (1982). Kennedy began receiving producer credit with Spielberg on the major box-office hit E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and continued serving in this role on most of his films for the next three decades.
Kathleen Kennedy Career
Early Career (1979–2011)
In 1982, Kathleen Kennedy co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall. She produced the Indiana Jones films and the Back to the Future trilogy, collaborating with directors such as Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood. In 1991, she and Marshall formed The Kennedy/Marshall Company, continuing their successful partnership with Spielberg. During this period, she produced major films including Jurassic Park (1993) and Schindler’s List (1993), both of which received critical acclaim. Kennedy was a producer on the Spielberg films War of the Worlds and Munich (2005), the latter earning her an Academy Award nomination.
Breakthrough (2012–Present)
In May 2012, Kathleen Kennedy stepped down from The Kennedy/Marshall Company to become co-chair of Lucasfilm Ltd. alongside George Lucas. Following the acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney, she was promoted to president. Kennedy played a key role in revitalizing the Star Wars franchise, overseeing the sequel trilogy starting with The Force Awakens in 2015 and the acclaimed spin-off Rogue One. She also expanded the franchise into streaming with series like The Mandalorian and Andor. Despite her success, speculation about her future at Lucasfilm has arisen, particularly following the mixed box office performance of subsequent Star Wars films.
Notable Works and Milestones
Kathleen Kennedy has produced films that have earned over $11 billion worldwide, including five of the fifty highest-grossing movies in film history. She has received eight Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, solidifying her status as one of Hollywood’s leading producers.
Kathleen Kennedy Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Kathleen Kennedy has received numerous nominations, including eight Academy Award nominations for Best Picture for her work on films such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Lincoln.
Kathleen Kennedy Awards Won
Kathleen Kennedy has won several prestigious awards, including the Irving J. Thalberg Award and the BAFTA Fellowship. She was also recognized with the Women in Film Crystal Award for her contributions to the industry.
Kathleen Kennedy Family
Kathleen Kennedy is married to Frank Marshall, a fellow producer, since 1987. They have two children together.
Personal Life
Kathleen Kennedy maintains a relatively private personal life. She has been involved in various philanthropic efforts and is known for her commitment to mentoring the next generation of filmmakers.
