Kenny Baker, the man who brought R2-D2 to life in the original Star Wars movies and prequels, has died aged 81.
Advertisement
Mr. Baker’s agent, Johnny Mans, confirmed the death. “He had a very long and fulfilled life”, she told The Guardian. She noted to The Guardian newspaper that his nonspeaking role in the enormously successful Star Wars franchise “brought lots of happiness to people”. He was very ill for the last few years so we had been expecting it.
Baker, who was three-feet eight-inches tall, performed as R2-D2 in scenes where the ‘droid was required to show more animation — in other scenes, the robot was unmanned and remote-controlled. He served as a R2-D2 “consultant” for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, which was released in 2015. “It was lovely working with Kenny”. Baker had been fighting illness for an extended period of time.
Baker grew up in Birmingham, and was told as a child that he would probably not live past puberty.
Still, Baker clearly had affection for the “Star Wars” universe, attending fan conventions and maintaining his association with R2-D2 until the end of his life.
Kenny Baker was a real gentleman as well as an incredible trooper who always worked hard under difficult circumstances, ‘ he wrote. Purvis ended up playing numerous bit roles in the Star Wars films including a mantis, the Gonk droid, an Ewok, and a Jawa – the same Jawa that ended up shooting R2. But Star Wars creator George Lucas convinced him to play the part by saying that Baker was small enough to wear the costume, yet strong enough to move around while wearing it.
But he relented: “I said, ‘I’ll help you out, I’ll do you a favor.’ He said, ‘You’ve got to do it”.
Myerscough told Britain’s Sky News that Baker had dealt for years with breathing problems, “which he had borne very bravely”.
Actors from the Star Wars films-both old and new-took to Twitter to mourn his passing.
Advertisement
They were soon married in 1970 but, his niece said, “Sadly Eileen died of epilepsy about 20 years ago”.
