James Kahn’s credits are as diverse as they are impressive. Emergency Room doctor, Bestselling author, Screenwriter, Filmmaker, Producer, Composer and Singer/Songwriter. He’s worked for or with titans of Film and Television including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Aaron Spelling and Norman Lear.
SWNN’s own Tyler Bradshaw and I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Kahn as he reflected on the twists and turns of his career (and life) as captured in his brand new book My Jedi Memoir – A Double Life.
The Novelist
I first became acquainted with James Kahn’s work as a wide-eyed 11 year old rushing to the bookstore to get my hands on the novelization of the brand new Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi. If you were around in 1983, you’ll recall a world where movie novelizations were the best way to re-connect and enjoy your favorite film before it ultimately made it to home video which could take months or even years (Jedi was released on home video nearly three years after its theatrical release). It was an era where DVD bonus features, commentaries and BTS featurettes were still years away but great novelists like Kahn would often embellish the story with exciting new details and background on the character’s thoughts and motivations.
I’ll never forget reading the section where Obi-Wan divulges all his secrets to Luke on Dagobah. James Kahn took the opportunity to expand on how Anakin became Vader two decades before the Mustafar duel would grace the big screen. The image of Anakin falling into lava and clawing his way out as Vader blew my mind. I remember the way Kahn described it… Obi-wan tells Luke that when Vader emerged from the lava he was “irredeemably dark”. Those words held so much weight because they drove home the fact that Obi-Wan had given up on Anakin, a stark contrast to Luke’s hope of the good still in his father. Kahn’s adaptation stayed with me all these years and I began to truly appreciate the art of the novel and how it could make a movie more immersive and complete.
A Double Life
In his new book, My Jedi Memoir – A Double Life, James Kahn shares personal stories about the trials and tribulations of a creative person trying to navigate the rigors of Hollywood, face the hardships of being an ER doctor and raise a family in the middle of all the chaos. Kahn speaks of the masks he attempted to wear throughout the entirety of these various chapters of his life and how they were peeled away through sheer force of necessity.
There are exciting Star Wars nuggets like the time where Kahn attempted to sway George Lucas into changing the ending of Return of the Jedi before the film wrapped up. Another he spoke about in our interview was why he added in some specific moments for Princess Leia in the novelization that were never mentioned in the movie. One of the most intriguing parts of the book is how Kahn’s novelization career began. A chance encounter with Kathleen Kennedy looking for a medical professional’s opinion on how to revive an alien (research for the movie ET) led to a meeting with Spielberg and an opportunity to write the novel of Poltergeist. Kahn’s memoir is filled with many of these serendipitous moments.
The book also sheds light on Kahn’s successful career in television both as a writer and producer. His credits include such shows as Melrose Place, All My Children, Star Trek the Next Generation and Star Trek Voyager. Some of his most entertaining and interesting anecdotes talked about dealing with the Hollywood machine as he encountered betrayal, creative differences and on-set politics. It was inspiring to read about Kahn’s persistence and passion which continued to drive him forward.
Beyond the entertainment world, there are some truly gripping and heartfelt stories throughout the memoir. Often, Kahn juxtaposes moments of his life in Hollywood with stories from his time as a Doctor. There is one particular patient, Leo, who Kahn reminisces on multiple times throughout the memoir. Kahn described how it’s not ideal for doctors to befriend their patients, but this was a rare case where he couldn’t help but befriend a man he spent so much critical time with. As he watches his friend face death it gives Kahn a new perspective on life.
Renaissance Man
In addition to his other creative and influential endeavors, James Kahn is also an accomplished musician and singer/songwriter. He spent the better part of the past decade honing his songwriting skills and recording music. He waxed poetic on the power of music to inspire and enlighten. Even with his storied career, he considers his music the best writing he’s ever done. Kahn’s gentle voice and Americana/folk acoustic blend is very reminiscent of artists like James Taylor. As someone with a writer’s heart, his songs are like stories set to music such as watching a child grow up in the song Gone One Day or tackling climate change and other hot button issues in his album of modern sea shanties, By the Risin’ of the Sea.
A Life Well Lived
The through line of the memoir is a reminder to answer the call when it comes because you may not know when or if it may come again. He implores individuals to pursue their dreams and accept that the possibility of failure may come. Don’t listen to the voices on your shoulder telling you that you aren’t good enough or no one will care. Kahn details how so many of the great opportunities in his life came from simply saying yes and pursuing his passion with everything he could.
It was thrilling to meet the man who gave us some of our early Star Wars memories and dabbled behind the scenes in some of our favorite franchises. The book contains a perfectly balanced blend of humor, and intrigue with a clear emotional through line. It’s a perfect encapsulation of several chapters of the fullness the human experience can offer. Go purchase it here. You won’t regret it.
You can watch SWNN’s full interview with James Kahn on our YouTube channel above.
Tom Seery is by day a mild mannered IT Engineer and by night an overachiever in the art of collecting hobbies. From the visual arts and animation to songwriting and flying planes, he is always on the lookout for his next adventure. His father took him to see Star Wars in an old theater in Brooklyn in the summer of 1977 and his life has never been the same. He lives in NYC with his wife, two kids and four cats.
Finding ways to nonchalantly incorporate Star Wars quotes into 8th grade classroom, Tyler lives and breathes Star Wars. His morning tradition is sending the latest number in the countdown for different Star Wars projects and loves engaging in uplifting Star Wars dialogue. If you are passionate about Star Wars you can follow him on Twitter at TyBrad5.