David Prowse: Darth Vader Actor Dies at 85

English bodybuilder and the actor of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy David Prowse died at the age of 85. Prowse was the perfect person for Darth Vader with his six feet, seven inches tall body. But the role was voiced by James Earl Jones. Prowse’s agent confirmed the news.

David Prowse was in the Darth Vader role for the original 1977 Star Wars. He also played Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. In an interview in 2016, Prowse said that George Lucas offered him a choice between playing Darth Vader or Chewbacca. Even he supplied Vader’s body, George Lucas decided to use James Earl Jones’ voice instead of David’s. Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, sent his condolences in a tweet. He wrote: “So sad to hear David Prowse has passed. He was a kind man & much more than Darth Vader. Actor-Husband-Father-Member of the Order of the British Empire-3 time British Weightlifting Champion & Safety Icon the Green Cross Code Man. He loved his fans as much as they loved him. #RIP”.

So sad to hear David Prowse has passed. He was a kind man & much more than Darth Vader. Actor-Husband-Father-Member of the Order of the British Empire-3 time British Weightlifting Champion & Safety Icon the Green Cross Code Man. He loved his fans as much as they loved him. #RIP pic.twitter.com/VbDrGu6iBz

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) November 29, 2020

Prowse won the British heavyweight weightlifting championship in 1962, 1963 and 1964. He represented England in the weightlifting event at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia.