AMERICAN GRAFFITI and INDIANA JONES Screenwriter GLORIA KATZ Has Passed Away

This past Sunday, the Oscar nominated screenwriter Gloria Katz lost her battle with ovarian cancer in a Los Angeles hospital. Along with her husband and writing partner, Willard Huyck, Katz was made famous for writing the great classic American Graffiti, and the not so great classic Howard the Duck. They also adapted the screenplay for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, along with several others.

Katz was a Los Angeles native with a Masters in film from UCLA. She married her husband, Huyck, who happened to be best friends with George Lucas, and she ended up being his go-to for script consultation and polishing. She mentioned in a 2017 interview that she and her husband helped to add much of the humor to The Empire Strikes Back, and helped to mold Leia into the badass she was.

So it turns out, behind the scenes, we have a lot to thank Katz for. She was a pioneer in her field, and will be missed.

Source: THR