Beloved ‘Star Wars' character actor dies from COVID and pneumonia
His death at his home in Ashford, Kent, was confirmed by his agent, Julian Owen, who said the actor had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and eventually succumbed to pneumonia.
'He had been admitted after a fall with an injured arm, however he quickly contracted Covid which developed into pneumonia,' Owen said in a statement. 'He passed away peacefully with friends at his bedside.'
Colley's portrayal of the steady and often-overwhelmed Admiral Piett in 1980's 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 1983's 'Return of the Jedi' earned him a lasting place in one of cinema's most iconic franchises.
He reprised the role decades later in the 2012 animated special 'Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out.'
Over a six-decade career, Colley left an indelible mark on British film, television and stage.
He famously played Jesus in 'Monty Python's Life of Brian,' and appeared in a string of Ken Russell films as well as international projects like Clint Eastwood's 'Firefox' and the World War II miniseries 'War and Remembrance.'
His television credits include' Peaky Blinders,' 'Pennies from Heaven' and 'The Sweeney.'
'Ken Colley was one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years,' Owen said. 'Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters.'
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