Latest news with #JulianOwen
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Iconic Star Wars actor dead at 87 after Covid battle
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died at the age 87. Colley, who played Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, passed away peacefully on Monday at his home in Ashford, Kent, his agent Julian Owen confirmed to The Post. 'Ken Colley was one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years,' Owen said in a statement to The Post. Owen confirmed that Colley was admitted to the hospital with an injured arm after a fall. The British actor quickly contracted COVID which developed into pneumonia. Colley had friends by his side when he died, Owen said. '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,' Owen's statement continued. '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.' Colley was born on December 7, 1937 in Manchester, Lancashire. Early in his career, he appeared in episodes of The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, Special Branch, The Sweeney and Pennies from Heaven. In 1980, Colley joined the Star Wars franchise with his portrayal as one of Darth Vader's Imperial officers in The Empire Strikes Back. He reprised the role in 1983's Return of the Jedi. Both films starred Hollywood legends Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Billy Dee Williams and the late Carrie Fisher. Nearly 30 years later, Colley voiced Admiral Piett in the 2012 animated TV film Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. Colley was also widely known for his roles in multiple Ken Russell movies and for playing Jesus in 1979's Monty Python's Life of Brian. Other movies Colley appeared in included Firefox, War and Remembrance, Measure for Measure, Return to Waterloo, The Whistle Blower, The Plot to Kill Hitler and The Rainbow. He also directed the 2007 horror movie Greetings starring Kirsty Cox, Henry Dunn and Ben Shockley.
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley dies aged 87
Published: | Updated: 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.
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley dies aged 87
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died at the age of 87, his agent has film and television performer 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 died peacefully at his home in Ashford, Kent, on Monday after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia, his agent Julian Owen said in a statement."Ken Colley was one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years," Mr Owens said. "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."The statement said Colley had been admitted to hospital with an injured arm after a fall, but he quickly contracted Covid which developed into died with friends at his bedside, it added. In later years, Colley reprised his role of Admiral Piett when he voiced the character in the 2012 animated Lego production, Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes also had parts in international productions including Clint Eastwood's Firefox and the Second World War series War and Owen said Colley's paticipation in Star Wars led him to being invited to conventions and fan events all over the world."Ken also loved his garden, art collecting and had a passion for fast cars," he is also known for playing Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian alongside John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Michael Palin.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Star Wars actor dies aged 87: Kenneth Colley passes away after catching Covid
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. 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.' 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.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley dies aged 87 ‘after contracting Covid and pneumonia' as tributes pour in
STAR Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died at the age of 87 after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia. The English actor is most famous 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. 2 2 Colley's agent of 10 years, Julian Owen, issued a statement which said that he died "peacefully" on Monday June 30 in Ashford, Kent. The statement 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. 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." Colley is also known for playing Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian alongside English actors' John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Michael Palin.
