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| British actor David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars movie trilogy, at the 48th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, near Barcelona, Spain in 2015.(File photo by=Susanna Saez / EPA) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] Dave Prowse, the British weightlifter-turned-actor who was the body, though not the voice, of Star Wars archvillain Darth Vader, has died aged 85. Prowse died on Saturday (Nov 28) after a short illness, his agent Thomas Bowington said Sunday.
Director George Lucas saw Prowse in a small part in A Clockwork Orange and asked the 2m-tall actor to audition for the villainous Vader or the Wookie Chewbacca in Star Wars. Prowse later told the BBC he chose Darth Vader because "you always remember the bad guys". Physically, Prowse was perfect for the part. His lilting English West Country accent was considered less ideal, and his lines were dubbed by James Earl Jones.
Prowse donned Darth Vader's black armor and helmet for Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983). Prowse also worked as a trainer for other actors, helping Christopher Reeve prepare to be the Man of Steel in the 1978 film Superman. Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films, tweeted that Prowse was "a kind man & much more than Darth Vader". Hamill said the actor "loved his fans as much as they loved him. #RIP” Prowse is survived by his wife Norma and their three children.
