George Walton Lucas , Jr. ( born May 14 , 1944 in Modesto , California ) is an American film director , producer , and screenwriter most famous for his Star Wars and Indiana Jones movie series . George Walton Lucas , Jr. ( born May 14 , 1944 ) is an American film producer , screenwriter , director and founder\/chairman of Lucasfilm Ltd. . He is best known for being the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones .