Robert Watts (C1 1952-56), who has died aged 86, played a vital role in bringing to life some of the most iconic films of the 20th century, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Born in London in 1938, Watts was educated at Marlborough College and Grenoble University. He completed National Service with the Royal West African Frontier Force before entering the film industry in the early 1960s as a runner. He swiftly moved up through the ranks, working on Repulsion, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Watts’s defining career chapter began in 1976 when he joined George Lucas’s Star Wars as a production supervisor. Filming in Tunisia proved brutal—sandstorms, heat, and equipment breakdowns—but Watts kept production on track. Set decorator Roger Christian later said Watts was “one of the five people who really stood by George” to get the film made.

He went on to serve as associate producer on The Empire Strikes Back and co-producer on Return of the Jedi, even helping cast his half-brother Jeremy Bulloch as Boba Fett. Watts also worked closely with Steven Spielberg on all three original Indiana Jones films and produced Who Framed Roger Rabbit for Disney.

Despite his high-profile credits, Watts remained modest and deeply appreciated by fans. He often attended conventions but joked that fans usually knew more about the films than he did.

Watts married twice, both marriages ending in divorce. He is survived by three children—Barney, Simon, and Liddy—from his second marriage.

Robert Watts died on 30 September 2024. His calm, creative leadership and deep understanding of filmmaking logistics helped shape modern cinema’s blockbuster era.