Major Hollywood screenwriter Gloria Katz, who is well known for working on Star Wars and Indiana Jones, has just passed away at age 76. She died over the weekend on Sunday after a battle with ovarian cancer.
Katz’ husband, Willard Huyck, worked on scriptwriting with her, and after they married in 1969 they began working with George Lucas. After getting nominated for an Oscar for their work on American Graffiti with Lucas, they went on to edit his screenplay for Star Wars by adding humour and about 30 per cent of the dialogue.
Very sad news to report tonight. Gloria Katz, who wrote INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM for us with her husband Willard Huyck, has passed away. Our deepest condolences to Mr. Huyck and loved ones. https://t.co/8hS9qiERwm
— Amblin (@amblin) November 29, 2018
According to a 2017 interview with The Mary Sue, Katz turned Princess Leia into a powerful female lead who didn’t “take any shit.”
Katz went on to work on scripts with her husband for films like French Postcards, Best Defence, Howard the Duck, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Radioland Murders.
Rest in peace, Gloria Katz.