The Woman Who Saved Star Wars: Oscar-Winning Editor Marcia Lucas, Who Shaped the Original Trilogy and Cut Return of the Jedi, Has Passed Away at 80

Marcia Lucas, the film editor who won an Academy Award for Best Film Editing for Star Wars and was the ex-wife of Star Wars creator George Lucas, has died at age 80. Variety reports that Lucas passed away from cancer Wednesday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Her family issued the following statement: “Marcia will be remembered as a brilliant storyteller, a trailblazer for women in film, a loving mother and grandmother, a generous host, and a loyal friend whose humor and sparkle filled every room she entered. Her influence on film is indelible, but those who knew her best will remember the way she made life feel more vivid, more beautiful, more fun, and more full of love. … Her work was known for its emotional intelligence, rhythm, and humanity — a rare ability to find the truth of a scene and bring heart, momentum, and clarity to the screen.” Born Marcia Lou Griffin in Modesto, California on October 4, 1945, Lucas began her career as an apprentice film librarian before segueing into film editing. It was while working for esteemed film editor Verna Fields that she met a University of Southern California film student named George Lucas who had been hired as an assistant editor. They married