Dave Prowse, the actor behind Vader’s mask, dead at 85

DAVID Prowse, the literal embodiment of one of the most iconic villains in movie history, has died at the age of 85, earlier today.

His agent, Thomas Bowington, said the actor had died after a short illness and described Prowse’s death as “a truly and deeply heart-wrenching sadness for us and millions of fans all over the world.”  

"May the force be with him, always!" the agent told the BBC.

Cast in the role due to his imposing size, 6ft 6in (1.98m), and background in weightlifting, Prowse famously did not voice the caped baddie - his Bristol accent deemed unsuitable for the part. 

Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia, nicknamed him “Darth Farmer” for this reason.

That part of the role went to veteran American actor James Earl Jones, which Prowse only learned about after filming was wrapped up.

“I think (Jones) did a wonderful job, but I still think I would have done equally as well given the right opportunity,” Prowse later said. 

In the Return of the Jedi, the final film of the original trilogy and the last one Prowse worked on, when Vader’s visage is finally revealed, the actor’s chance at catching the limelight was foiled again - as British actor Sebastian Shaw’s face was used instead. 

Luke Skywalker himself - Vader’s son (spoiler alert) - addressed the issue in a tweet in June 2018:

Prowse had also been offered the part of Chewbacca, the gentle giant sidekick of swashbuckler Han Solo, but turned down the part. 

"Lucas said to me, 'You've got a choice of two characters in the movie'," Prowse recalled in a 2016 interview. "He said, 'There's a character called Chewbacca, which is like a huge teddy bear, or alternatively, there's the main villain in the piece.'

"Well, there's no choice, is there? Thank you very much, I'll have the villain's piece." – The Vibes, November 29, 2020