Darth Vader Actor David Prowse Passes Away at Age 85

Dave Prowse, the British weightlifter-turned-actor who famously portrayed the iconic role of Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, has passed away at the of 85.

"It's with great regret and heart-wrenching sadness for us and million of fans around the world, to announce that our client Dave Prowse M.B.E. has passed away at the age of 85," stated Bowington Management via Twitter on Sunday.

"May the force be with him, always!" his former agent, Thomas Bowington, said in a statement to the BBC. "Though famous for playing many monsters - for myself, and all who knew Dave and worked with him, he was a hero in our lives."

Born in Bristol, southwest England, in 1935, Prowse was a three-time British weightlifting champion and represented England in weightlifting at the 1962 Commonwealth Games before breaking into movies with roles that emphasized his commanding size, including Frankenstein's monster in a pair of Hammer Studios horror films.

Director George Lucas saw Prowse in a small part in "A Clockwork Orange" and asked the 6' 6" actor to audition for the villainous Vader in "Star Wars" (1977); a role he would continue to portray in the sequels "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980), and "Return of the Jedi" (1983).

Prowse also worked as a trainer for other actors, helping Christopher Reeve bulk up for the role as the Man of Steel in the 1978 blockbuster film "Superman" by training with Reeve for six weeks.

"He was fantastic. He was a very lovely person," Prowse said of Reeve. "We were like brothers, we got along so well together. And during the course of the period I had him, I took him from 170 pounds when we started and he was 212 [pounds] when he went into the suit."

Prowse suffered from arthritis for many years and campaigned to raise money for research into disease. In 1999 he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to charity and road safety.

In October 2016, Prowse announced his retirement from all public appearances and events, later attributing the decision to ill health and the wishes of his family. A final onscreen appearance was later announced and filmed with the Welsh musician and his long-time friend Jayce Lewis in a sci-fi music video titled "Shields".

Prowse died at a hospital in London, England, on November 28th, 2020 after a short illness. Prowse is survived by his wife Norma and their three children.

The Superman Super Site extends our deepest heartfelt condolences to the Prowse family and loved ones during this difficult time of mourning.




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