David Prowse, the original Darth Vader actor, dies at 85

David ‘Dave’ Prowse who is popular for playing the Darth Vader character in the original Star Wars trilogy has died at 85.

David Prowse started out as a bodybuilder and his physique got him acting roles as a big out-worldly creature. One of his most popular roles is Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy although James Earl Jones voiced the character.

Prowse also played the role of Frankenstein’s Creature in his film debut in 1967. He has a long film career spanning over 50 years and played mainly villainous characters.

However, he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire for playing the Green Cross Code Man. A role that he was most proud of despite not being as popular as the rest.

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According to Prowse’s agent, Thomas Bowington, “Though famous for playing many monsters – for myself, and all who knew Dave and worked with him, he was a hero in our lives.”

David Prowse died at the age of 85 after a brief illness, Bowington told the public. During his lifetime, he had been close friends of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, both of whom he knew as fellow bodybuilders before they even started acting.

David Prowse had even represented England at the Commonwealth Games in the early 1960s owing to his weightlifting skills. He was also the personal trainer of Christopher Reeve, getting the actor fit enough for the physical demands of his role as Superman.