An actor in the iconic movie franchise Star Wars has died.
Star Wars, created by George Lucas, is a seminal space opera franchise that began with the 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
The original trilogy, depicting the battle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire, was followed by a prequel trilogy exploring Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader.
A sequel trilogy continued the saga, introducing new characters and conflicts.
Beyond films, the franchise has expanded into television series, novels, comics, and video games, becoming a cultural phenomenon and one of the highest-grossing media franchises.
Now, an actor from the franchise has sadly passed away.
Following the news of the star’s passing, tributes have been pouring in from colleagues and fans alike.
Actor David Pressman shared a video on X (formerly Twitter), writing: *“Just heard that my neighbor for many years when I was growing up has sadly passed away. The OG Emperor Palpatine in Empire Strikes Back.
“He was always so kind to me and told the best stories. Bringing this video back to when I asked him to do his iconic line. Legend.”*
Fans have also expressed their condolences, with one writing, “We will never forget.”
Another simply said, “Rest in peace.”
Veteran actor Clive Revill, best known for his work in Star Wars, Batman: The Animated Series, and Transformers, has passed away at the age of 94 after a prolonged battle with dementia.
His daughter, Kate Revill, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that he died on March 11 at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles.
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1930, Revill was the son of Eleanor, a homemaker and opera singer, and Malet, a carpenter.
With a career spanning over six decades, Revill earned acclaim for both his stage and screen performances.
One of his most iconic roles was voicing Emperor Palpatine in the original 1980 version of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. He also lent his voice to Transformers: The Movie (1986), Batman: The Animated Series, and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
His acting journey began in the early 1950s when he crossed paths with theater legends Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh during their tour of New Zealand.
Recognizing his talent, they encouraged him to move to England and train at the prestigious Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol.
Reflecting on this period, Revill once admitted to facing moments of self-doubt.
“I had my doubts at one point when I thought, ‘I can’t do it. I can’t do this. I can’t find it within myself,’” he recalled in a 2017 interview.
He credited a conversation with a movement coach for helping him push past his fears:
“She took me aside and said, ‘You’ve got to go back within yourself and find the truth. And if you can find that truth, never, never, never lose it, because it’s more than a ring on a finger. It’s the absolute, innermost line within your life and your spirit.’”
Revill became known as a versatile character actor, with roles in classic television series such as The Twilight Zone, Columbo, and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
His final film role was in The Queen of Spain (2016), where he starred alongside Penélope Cruz before retiring from the industry.
Revill’s talents extended to the big screen as well.
In 1973, he earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the comedy film Avanti!, in which he starred alongside Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills.
