‘Star Wars’ actor, activist dies at 85

Michael Culver, who starred in the 1980 “Star Wars” film, “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back,” has died. He was 85. 

While his cause of death has yet to be determined, he had poor health issues that he suffered from for years.

The British actor’s passing was announced by his agent on Wednesday.

“We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client Michael Culver,” the statement read.

“It’s been an honor to have represented Michael for the last decade and to have taken him to some of the best ‘Star Wars’ events in the U.K. and Europe,” they continued. “We miss him.”

“A real highlight was taking Michael to Celebration in Chicago in 2019. He was lost for words when he saw his queue line with nearly 200 people waiting to see him,” they recalled.

His reps noted that he died on Feb. 27 and they worked with him just three weeks prior during a signing at his home.

“A career spanning over 50 years with notable roles in ‘Sherlock Holmes,’ ‘A Passage to India,’ ‘Secret Army’ and of course one of the most memorable death scenes in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise,” his agent continued.

Culver famously portrayed Captain Needa in “The Empire Strikes Back” and was killed by Darth Vader.

His reps explained that Culver “largely gave up acting in the early 2000’s to concentrate his efforts into his political activism.”

He also had a career on the stage, doing much work with the Dundee Repertory Theatre in Scotland, as well as on London’s West End and the Kiln Theatre.

Additionally, he appeared in TV shows “Emmerdale,” “Spooks” and “Wallander.”

Culver was even a strong supporter of the anti-war protester Brian Haw during the Iraqi War.

“A deeply impressive human being,” he remarked of Haw at one point, who died in 2011.

In 2023, Culver and actor Mark Rylance advocated for a statue of Haw to be put up outside the Imperial War Museum in south London. The figure was designed by Culver’s second wife, Amanda Ward.

The activist grew up Hampstead, England, and was the son of actor Roland Culver and casting director Daphne Rye.

Culver was married twice, and is survived by his children Justin, Roderic and Susan, as well as grandchildren, Cameron, Isabella, Grace and Sabina.