RIP Darth Vader

markgoode77

Actor David Prowse who played Darth Vader in original Star Wars trilogy dies age 85.

He was also Christopher Reeve's personal trainer for the Superman role.

Haruchai

And the Green Cross Code man here in his home UK (a series of child safety films). A genuinely nice guy by all accounts from those who worked with him. RIP.

alexhcowley

Haruchai said:

And the Green Cross Code man here in his home UK (a series of child safety films). A genuinely nice guy by all accounts from those who worked with him. RIP.

I heard somewhere once that the Green Cross Code man adverts halved the number of road accidents involving the age group they were aimed at.  That, alone, is an achievement to be proud of. 

Cheers,

Alex.

markgoode77

Haruchai said:

And the Green Cross Code man here in his home UK (a series of child safety films). A genuinely nice guy by all accounts from those who worked with him. RIP.

I remember it well.  How about the 'Pound Power' man in  the adverts for a string of discount supermarkets?  I think he recycled his Green Cross Code outfit for that one.

He claimed he said to George Lucas, in an off-hand remark during filming of A New Hope, that perhaps Vader should be Luke Skywalker's father.  Lucas said otherwise, and that the 'I am your father' thing was his own idea.

SimonJM

Met him at a convention a few years ago, a nice guy;, and despite being on crutches was one of the few celebrities there who actually wandered around to visit the other stalls.

Khai-J-Bach

Noah LGP

Again ?

May the force be with him, we'll never forget him.

 

FSMCDesigns

"I felt a disturbance in the force!"

RIP Lord Vader

miladyderyni_173d399f47

Haruchai said:

And the Green Cross Code man here in his home UK (a series of child safety films). A genuinely nice guy by all accounts from those who worked with him. RIP.

Indeed, a lovely, lovely gentleman. I got to meet him years ago, as a member of the Rebel Legion costuming club. I got to tell him about the standing ovation Vader got in our rural theater when he tossed the Emperor. To see that brief gleam of delight in his eyes was the highlight of that con.

Leana

RIP 

SlimerJSpud

According to one article, George Lucas offered him his choice of playing Darth Vader or Chewbacca. Lucas needed tall actors for both roles. Prowse said, “Thank you very much, I’ll have the villain’s piece.” He was a professional bodybuilder and weightlifter before acting. He played the part of the bodyguard in A Clockwork Orange who picked up a soaking wet, beat up Malcolm McDowell and carried him into the house of the writer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DavidProwseAClockworkOrange.png

RIP

Subtropic Pixel

David Prowse was replaced by Sebastian Shaw for Vader's death scene in Return of the Jedi.  Not sure the reasons given, but Prowse was on the outs with Lucas by the time that movie came around, so he never got to play the part without the face-hiding helmet of Darth Vader.

Some filmmaker ended up re-filming that death scene with David Prowse and hosting a private showing of that scene to a packed theater!  If I recall correctly, it had to be a private showing to avoid issues with copyright.

But yeah, they got 'er done, eventually!

kyoto kid

SlimerJSpud said:

According to one article, George Lucas offered him his choice of playing Darth Vader or Chewbacca. Lucas needed tall actors for both roles. Prowse said, “Thank you very much, I’ll have the villain’s piece.” He was a professional bodybuilder and weightlifter before acting. He played the part of the bodyguard in A Clockwork Orange who picked up a soaking wet, beat up Malcolm McDowell and carried him into the house of the writer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DavidProwseAClockworkOrange.png

RIP

...I remember that (love that film as well).

Loved the irony that such a nice likeable fellow in RL portrayed one of the most villianous characters in the galaxy.

Sir Alec Guinness, Peter Mahew, Kenny Baker, Peter Cushing, Carrie Fisher, and now David Prowse, the galaxy seems a bit more empty now.

 

Silent Winter

RIP :(

markgoode77

Also Hotblack Desiato's bodyguard in the TV series of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.  I only just remembered that.

Bodyguard:
[Ford is trying to talk to Hotbalck Desiato] Kid?

Ford Prefect:
Yeah?

Bodyguard:
Go away.

Ford Prefect:
What?

Bodyguard:
Beat it.

Ford Prefect:
And who are you?

Bodyguard:
I'm the guy who's telling you to beat it before you get it beaten for you.

Ford Prefect:
Listen, ugly, I'm one of Hotblack's oldest mates and...

Bodyguard:
And I am Mr. Desiato's personal bodyguard and I am responsible for his body and I am not responsible for yours. so take it away before it gets damaged.

bluto

I actually got to meet and spend quite a little bit of time over 3 days with the man in Orlando Florida at a very small little convention that he was a guest at in the mid 80's. I'm not entirely certain but I think the man took to me because I chose to ask him about what it was like to work with Hammer horror films rather than go off on all the Star wars stuff . I found him to be very personable and very polite , a true gentleman . at the time the rumor was that he was very angry with lucasfilm , 20th century Fox and George Lucas because he was basically the big guy in the suit and they had let him believe that he was going to be the voice as well but then they dubbed in James Earl Jones and the iron lung over his dialog. I thought it was absolutely hilarious when he came to the stage to do his talk . he said that he had no problems with any of the people and situations just mentioned then he went on to tell us about the unknown lyrics to the Star wars theme song . we were all very surprised because we didn't think there were lyrics however he insisted there were . he then broke out in a rousing course of ... Star wars ....made me a fortune ....paid off to mortgage .... bought me a car.

kyoto kid

...

zombiewhacker

He also played the Frankenstein Monster three times, tying him with Boris Karloff and Glenn Strange for that distinction (IIRC, nobody has done it four times).