Worked as documentary filmmaker for US Information Service in Middle East on the films "Malaria", "Childbirth", "Locust Plague" and "Road of One Hundred Days"

Director and cameraman on documentary segments of TV series, "Confidential File"

Directed first feature films, "The Young Captives" and "Stakeout on Dope Street"; also co-wrote the screenplay for the latter

Directed episodes of the ABC crime drama series, "The Naked City", and the ABC medical drama, "Ben Casey" in the early 1960s

First international film credit, the US-Canadian production, "The Luck of Ginger Coffey"

Was originally set to direct the film, "A Man Called Horse" but was replaced by Elliot Silverstein; Kershner co-authored the screenplay but did not receive screen credit

TV miniseries directing debut, "Raid on Entebbe"

Made the biggest commercial hit of his career, "The Empire Strikes Back"

Served as executive producer on the film, "Wildfire", the first film directed by Zalman King

Made screen acting debut playing Zebedee in "The Last Temptation of Christ", directed by Martin Scorsese

Directed the pilot/premiere episode of the NBC action adventure series, "seaQuest DSV"

Began as director of a remake of "Forbidden Planet"; was eventually replaced by actor Edward Albert