Star Wars and James Bond actor Michael Culver dies

Star Wars and James Bond actor Michael Culver has died on the age of 85.

In the enduring 1980 Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back, he performed Captain Lorth Needa and met his finish on the hand of the villainous Darth Vader.

Described as a “classic English actor” by his agent, he additionally had two smaller roles in James Bond films and later in life turned a passionate political activist.

Mr Culver’s company introduced at present that he died at residence on 27 February.

The actor’s agent, Thomas Bowington, paid tribute to him, telling Sky News: “The half in Star Wars was one of many smallest elements he ever performed and have become one of many greatest in his life.

“He belonged to the backbone of the nation, he wasn’t a star like a Michael Caine, but everything he did was always never less than excellent.

“He all the time delivered. He was a type of traditional English character actors who might play something.

“He was really old school, always on time, always committed, always prepared. Totally a professional. The drama was always on stage and on the screen only.”

Mr Bowington additionally touched on Mr Culver’s ardour for politics and mentioned that had he not began out in performing, influenced by his father – the late stage actor Ronald Culver – he might have ended up as a politician.

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Alongside Star Wars, Mr Culver performed characters in two James Bond films, From Russia With Love and Thunderball.

During the ultimate scene of From Russia With Love, the second James Bond film, Mr Culver rides a gondola close by as Sean Connery and Daniela Bianchi kiss.

Mr Culver additionally appeared in an episode of the ITV sequence Sherlock Holmes, a 1984 movie adaption of E M Forster’s A Passage To India and a Nineteen Seventies TV sequence of Persuasion, primarily based on Jane Austen’s novel.

His profession additionally featured many roles within the theatre.

In a press release, Alliance Agents mentioned: “It’s been an honour to have represented Michael for the last decade and to have taken him to some of the best Star Wars events in the UK and Europe.

“An actual spotlight was taking Michael to Celebration in Chicago in 2019. He was misplaced for phrases when he noticed his queue line with almost 200 folks ready to see him.

“We worked with Michael just three weeks ago at his last home signing with our friends at Elite Signatures.

“We miss him.”