Mark Hamill and George Lucas have led the tributes to their beloved Star Wars colleague and R2-D2 alter ego who died on Saturday, aged 81.
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“It was expected, but it’s sad nonetheless”. He had a very long and fulfilled life.
“He brought lots of happiness to people and we’ll be celebrating the fact that he was well loved throughout the world”, she told The Guardian. He did extremely well in his life. He also described Baker as “a one-off” saying he would “never forget the laughs we shared over the years”. Although he had been told he was too ill to travel to the Los Angeles premiere of last year’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the actor managed to make the London one, meeting again with franchise creator and wunderkind George Lucas in the process. He began in the 1977 original “Star Wars”, segued into the sequels “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi”, and then returned for the three prequels, which began in 1999 and wrapped up in 2005. In addition to the Star Wars films, Baker also appeared in Flash Gordon, The Elephant Man, Amadeus, Time Bandits and Labyrinth.
“It’s all in hindsight, but I should have done it for nothing.”
Encased in the android R2-D2’s metallic shell, Baker gave endearing life to the robot, which was one half of a comedic duo with Anthony Daniels’ C-3PO that emerged as an intergalactic Laurel and Hardy. 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. In response to Baker’s death, Davis said that he “paved the way for short actors of a generation”.
Tributes to the star have since followed, with “Lord of the Rings” actor Dominic Monaghan tweeting: “You left your legendary marks #KennyBaker #rip to a lovely gent and a fantastic legacy”.
Baker’s agent Johnny Mans (who has known him since the 1960s), added: “He was part of a double act called the Mini-Tones, his partner being Jack Purvis, who sadly died after an accident with his vehicle”. He also worked at the time with his lifelong agent, Johnny Mans.
Shield explained that Baker met his wife Eileen after an appearance on the Michael Parkinson TV show.
“They got married soon after”, said Shield.
And actress Linda Lusardi said: “So sad Kenny Baker died last night”.
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Baker will be missed by all of us at Geeks Of Doom and the many Star Wars fans past and present and even future, whose presence as R2-D2, will be with us, always.
