Robert Watts, Star Wars and Indiana Jones Producer, passes away at 86

We have sad news to report today. Robert Watts, the producer on the Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies as well as other beloved films has passed away. He died in his sleep at the age 86.

Watts was friends and worked for producer Gary Kurtz, which is how he started on Star Wars: A New Hope as a production manager. From there, he would step up as the associate producer for The Empire Strikes Back and then later was the co-producer for Return of the Jedi, via Deadline. From his work with the Star Wars trilogies, he would also join Steven Spielberg on his trilogy of films with Indiana Jones. He started as the associate producer for Raiders of the Lost Arc before becoming the producer for the other two films in the franchise.

Watts also made a small cameo in Return of the Jedi. Via Lucasfilm, who shared a photo of Watts with his fellow actor Richard Marquand, he said about his character, "It turned out that the character was called ‘Lieutenant,’ which was in fact my rank in the English army." Also, his half brother was Jeremy Bulloch, who portrayed Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Lucasfilm released a statement with Kathleen Kennedy stating, “It’s not an overstatement to say that,
without Robert Watts’ involvement, Lucasfilm would be a very different company today. 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.”

Watts' rep Julian Owen of Alliance Media shared with Deadline, "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.”

Robert Watts contribution to Star Wars will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, sir.