Dave Prowse, actor who played Darth Vader, dies at 85

LONDON, UK — Dave Prowse, the British weightlifter-turned-actor who performed Darth Vader within the unique “Star Wars” trilogy, has died. He was 85. 

Prowse’s agent Thomas Bowington mentioned Sunday that Prowse died Saturday after a brief sickness. 

Prowse represented England in weightlifting on the Commonwealth Video games within the 1950s earlier than breaking into the films. 

Within the 1970s, director George Lucas requested the 6-foot-6 inch actor to audition for the villainous Vader or the wookie Chewbacca in “Star Wars.” Prowse later advised the BBC he selected Darth Vader as a result of “you at all times keep in mind the dangerous guys.” 

Bodily, Prowse was excellent for the half. His lilting English West Nation accent was thought-about much less best, and the strains had been re-recorded by James Earl Jones.