Lucasfilm Historian J.W. Rinzler Dies at Age 58

Jonathan Rinzler, a profilic author of many “making of” books for iconic franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones has died of pancreatic cancer at age 58.

The sad news came via his daughter Sarah Rinzler on Twitter. ““Jonathan passed away on July 28th after a nearly one-year battle with pancreatic cancer,” she wrote on her father’s Twitter page. “Thank you to all for your support and love.”

Sarah writing: Jonathan passed away on July 28th after a nearly one-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Thank you to all for your support and love. https://t.co/e0R0JBOjpy

— J. W. Rinzler (@jwrinzler) August 4, 2021

According to Deadline, Rinzler joined Lucasfilm in 2001 and became the executive editor of Lucasbooks. During his tenure, Rinzler penned The Making of Star Wars, The Complete Making of Indiana Jones and the graphic novel The Star Wars, Rinzler worked with George Lucas himself before leaving the company in 2016.

From StarWars.com…

“Jonathan was a sure and steady presence across the years as both a writer and executive at Lucasfilm,” [George] Lucas recalled Wednesday. “With his kind and contemplative nature, you could see a glint in his eye, the wheels turning when he had a new idea and a quiet fervor with which he sought out ever more detail for the books he wrote and edited. The works he left behind are touchstones to times and places we can each remember and appreciate in our own way.”

Last year, Rinzler had his “tell all” blog about his experiences working at Lucasfilm taken down by Disney legal, and was a supporter of his fellow writers in the “Disney Must Pay” movement.

The family requests that any remembrances in Jonathan’s name be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

[Source: Deadline]