Darth Vader has passed away

David Prowse, the actor who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars movies, has passed away. The tall bodybuilder has turned 85 years old. He died after a short illness.

The actor is but not the voice of Darth Vader

Prowse was born in Bristol, England, in 1935. He was a three-time British weightlifting champion. Despite gaining world fame as the actor who played the evil genius in the original Star Wars films, his voice was never heard. James Earl Jones is the voice actor of Darth Vader.

Director George Lucas saw Prowse in a small role in the British cult film ‘A Clockwork Orange’ and asked the nearly 6-foot actor to audition for the villainous Vader of the Wookie Chewbacca.

Prowse played Luke Skywalker’s former father in Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Prowse later told the BBC that he chose Darth Vader because ‘you always remember the bad guys’.

Lucas is proud that Prowse brought ‘his’ creation to life

Star Wars spiritual father George Lucas writes in tribute: “He made Vader jump off the page and appear on the big screen, with an imposing stature and movement performance to match the intensity and undercurrent of Vader’s presence.”