THE ORIGINAL DARTH VADER DIES AGED 85 David Prowse

David Prowse, the actor who played Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” trilogy, has died at the age of 85 after a short illness.

In a statement, Prowse’s agency confirmed his death to the media on Sunday morning: “A constant source of inspiration, encouragement and kindness. A truly and deeply heartwrenching loss for us and millions of fans all over the world! A loving husband, father and grandfather. May the force be with him, always!”

Although he did not give Darth Vader a voice, for generations Prowse, with his muscular 6ft 6in frame, was the greatly feared villain in “Star Wars.” Prowse was at first offered the role of Chewbacca, which he rejected because he did not want to wear a mask and cover his face. He was then offered the role of Darth Vader, which he accepted, not knowing that the villain would be wearing a mask too. He was born in Bristol, England, in 1935. Before entering showbusiness, Prowse was a competitive weightlifter and won the British heavyweight lifting championship three years in a row from 1962.

Throughout his life, Prowse had several minor roles as monsters and tough guys, worked as a personal trainer to various screen stars, and for a road safety TV campaign, which earned him an MBE, a civil honor awarded by the royal family to recognize contributions to public life.

His name and “Darth Vader” were both trending worldwide on Sunday on Twitter as celebrities and fans mourned his passing and paid tribute to him.

Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, hailed his Star Wars co-star @HamillHimself: “So sad to hear David Prowse has passed. He was a kind man & much more than Darth Vader. ActorHusband-Father-Member of the Order of the British Empire-3 time British Weightlifting Champion & Safety Icon the Green Cross Code Man. He loved his fans as much as they loved him. #RIP.” @JediJargonPod tweeted: “RIP David Prowse; thank you for bringing Darth Vader, one of the greatest characters in cinema history, to life. 1935-2020.”