AS Star Wars fans prepare themselves for the season two finale of the ‘The Mandalorian’, they are greeted with sad news, as the actor who portrayed the original armoured bounty hunter, Jeremy Bulloch, passed away today at age 75.
According to his representatives he died in London of complications from Parkinson’s disease.
“We are very sad to announce the death of actor Jeremy Bulloch, earlier today,” his agents at Brown, Simcocks & Andrews said on Thursday.
“He died peacefully, in hospital, surrounded by his family, from health complications following his many years living with Parkinson’s disease.”
Born in Leicestershire, England, Bulloch became an actor at an early age, starring first in commercials but eventually moving into television, stage, and film.
While Bulloch had a long career, he is best remembered for playing the mysterious Mandalorian bounty hunter Boba Fett in 1980’s “The Empire Strikes Back” and 1983’s “Return of the Jedi.”
Though the character was on screen for only a handful of minutes in both films and barely spoke, the iconic design and look of the armour cemented him in pop culture history.
It doesn’t hurt that when Darth Vader – one of the iconic movie villains – speaks to a bunch of bounty hunters, he singles out Fett and tells him, “No disintegrations.”
The character was so iconic that when the Star Wars movies returned with prequels set decades earlier, the mythology of the character grew.
In 2002’s “Attack of the Clones”, we meet his father Jango, played by New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison and a child Boba, played by Daniel Logan.
Logan announced Bulloch’s passing on his Instagram account.
Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker himself, spoke on Bulloch's passing on Twitter:
Jeremy Bulloch was the quintessential English gentleman. A fine actor, delightful company & so kind to everyone lucky enough to meet or work with him. I will deeply miss him & am so grateful to have known him. ? #RIP_DearJeremy pic.twitter.com/SMvjtQsSwZ
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 17, 2020
Bulloch would receive a second brief face cameo in 2005's "Revenge of the Sith", playing the captain of the Tantive III, Captain Colton.
As Star Wars creator George Lucas is wont to do, he tinkered with newer releases of the original trilogy, replacing Bulloch’s line delivery with new voice-over from Morrison.
So lasting an influence the character has had, that the first time a live-action Star Wars television show was made, it centred on a hero in the mould of Boba Fett.
And just a few weeks ago on “The Mandalorian”, the once dead bounty hunter was brought back to life in thrilling fashion, rekindling the childhood fascination many Star Wars fans have had with the character.
With the season arriving imminently, it is probably too late to add a postscript honouring Bulloch, but rest assured Boba Fett will live on in pop culture history.
Bulloch is survived by his wife, three sons and 10 grandchildren. – The Vibes, December 18, 2020
