Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley dies aged 87
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died at the age of 87 after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia . The English film and television actor is best known for starring in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as Admiral Piett, an imperial officer in command of Darth Vader's flagship.
His agent of 10 years, Julian Owen issued a statement which said that he died 'peacefully' on Monday, June 30, in Ashford, Kent. After injuring his arm after a fall, he was taken to hospital where he caught Covid, which developed into pneumonia. The statement from his agent said: 'He had been admitted after a fall with an injured arm, however he quickly contracted Covid which developed into pneumonia.
'He passed away peacefully with friends at his bedside. Ken Colley was one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years. 'Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell films, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure for the BBC.'
In later years, he reprised his role of Admiral Piett when he voiced the character in the 2012 animated Lego production, Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. According to Colley, the character of Piett was not originally slated to appear in Return of the Jedi, but George Lucas added him because Lucasfilm had received 'a lot of fan mail' about the character. Colley said he got the original Empire role when he impressed director Irvin Kershner.
He said Kershner told him he was 'looking for someone that would frighten Hitler' - and then added after their meeting: 'Yes, I think you're it'. He once said he grew to like the actor he worked with most, David Prowse, who wore Darth Vader's suit in the original films. The actor explained: 'I couldn't afford to like him too much, or else it would come into the scene. But underneath that rubber suit is a real nice guy.'
He also had parts in international productions, including Clint Eastwood's Firefox and the Second World War series War and Remembrance. The statement added: 'Ken's favourite part was playing Estragon in the stage production of Beckett's classic Waiting for Godot at the Cockpit Theatre in London in 2014.
'Ken's participation in Star Wars led him to being invited to conventions and official fan events all over the World where he remains one of the best loved actors from the original trilogy. 'Ken loved his garden, art collecting and had a passion for fast cars.' Fans have paid tribute to Colley on social media, with one writing: 'You are immortalised in a galaxy far, far away, and in the hearts of Star Wars fans everywhere. May the Force Be With You.'
Another added: 'Sad to hear about Kenneth Colley's passing. Covid and pneumonia are still taking a toll. RIP to the Admiral Piett actor.' He is also known for playing Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian alongside English actors' John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Michael Palin.
In recent years, he had stints on Holby City to Peaky Blinders, and appeared on two episodes of a Doctor Who special. One of his early appearances on British television was as Noah Riley in the 1970s police drama The Sweeney. He even had a go a directing with Greetings a 2007 horror film starring Kirsty Cox, Henry Dunn and Ben Shockley.
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