Star Wars icon dies 'after contracting Covid and pneumonia'
He appeared in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Colley's agent shared the sad news as they revealed the actor died "peacefully" at his home in Ashford, Kent on Monday 30 June.
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Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley dies aged 87
Published: | Updated: Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died at the age of 87 after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia . The English film and television actor is best known for starring in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as Admiral Piett, an imperial officer in command of Darth Vader's flagship. His agent of 10 years, Julian Owen issued a statement which said that he died 'peacefully' on Monday, June 30, in Ashford, Kent. After injuring his arm after a fall, he was taken to hospital where he caught Covid, which developed into pneumonia. The statement from his agent said: 'He had been admitted after a fall with an injured arm, however he quickly contracted Covid which developed into pneumonia. 'He passed away peacefully with friends at his bedside. Ken Colley was one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years. 'Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell films, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure for the BBC.' In later years, he reprised his role of Admiral Piett when he voiced the character in the 2012 animated Lego production, Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. According to Colley, the character of Piett was not originally slated to appear in Return of the Jedi, but George Lucas added him because Lucasfilm had received 'a lot of fan mail' about the character. Colley said he got the original Empire role when he impressed director Irvin Kershner. He said Kershner told him he was 'looking for someone that would frighten Hitler' - and then added after their meeting: 'Yes, I think you're it'. He once said he grew to like the actor he worked with most, David Prowse, who wore Darth Vader's suit in the original films. The actor explained: 'I couldn't afford to like him too much, or else it would come into the scene. But underneath that rubber suit is a real nice guy.' He also had parts in international productions, including Clint Eastwood's Firefox and the Second World War series War and Remembrance. The statement added: 'Ken's favourite part was playing Estragon in the stage production of Beckett's classic Waiting for Godot at the Cockpit Theatre in London in 2014. 'Ken's participation in Star Wars led him to being invited to conventions and official fan events all over the World where he remains one of the best loved actors from the original trilogy. 'Ken loved his garden, art collecting and had a passion for fast cars.' Fans have paid tribute to Colley on social media, with one writing: 'You are immortalised in a galaxy far, far away, and in the hearts of Star Wars fans everywhere. May the Force Be With You.' Another added: 'Sad to hear about Kenneth Colley's passing. Covid and pneumonia are still taking a toll. RIP to the Admiral Piett actor.' He is also known for playing Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian alongside English actors' John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Michael Palin. In recent years, he had stints on Holby City to Peaky Blinders, and appeared on two episodes of a Doctor Who special. One of his early appearances on British television was as Noah Riley in the 1970s police drama The Sweeney. He even had a go a directing with Greetings a 2007 horror film starring Kirsty Cox, Henry Dunn and Ben Shockley.
Leader Live
11 hours ago
- Leader Live
In Pictures: Tearful politicians showing their sensitive side
The precise cause of Rachel Reeves' distress on the front bench as the Prime Minister jousted with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch remains a matter of speculation but it was certainly uncomfortable to watch. She is far from the first politician to show her emotions by shedding tears though. Here, the PA news agency looks at some other examples over the years of politicians becoming tearful: – Theresa May Theresa May's tenure as prime minister was dominated by Brexit. The former home secretary had the unenviable task of bringing the country back together after a divisive referendum and negotiating the UK's exit from the European Union as she succeeded David Cameron in 2016. Mrs May ultimately failed to deliver the latter of those goals and the toll that responsibility had taken on her during her time in No 10 perhaps showed as she delivered her resignation speech outside Downing Street in May 2019. – Margaret Thatcher Known as the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher portrayed strength during her 11-year reign as prime minister. However, she too, showed a more human side when she broke down in tears as she said goodbye to Downing Street in 1990. – George Osborne George Osborne wept as he attended Baroness Thatcher's funeral in 2013. Mr Osborne, who was chancellor at the time, was moved to tears during a sermon by then Bishop of London Lord Chartres. – Matt Hancock Matt Hancock raised eyebrows as he appeared to wipe away a tear during a live appearance on Good Morning Britain as he reacted to news that a man called William Shakespeare had become the second person in the UK to receive a Covid vaccine. 'It's been such a tough year for so many people,' the then health secretary told Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid in December 2020. – Gordon Brown Gordon Brown wept when he opened up about the death of his daughter Jennifer during a TV interview in 2010. The then prime minister's eyes filled with tears as he told Piers Morgan he knew that his newborn daughter was not going to survive. She died in 2002 aged just 10 days after suffering a brain haemorrhage. – Cherie Blair Cherie Blair broke down in tears in 2002 as she tried to explain away the controversy surrounding convicted fraudster Peter Foster's role in buying two flats for herself and her then prime minister husband Tony Blair. 'I know I'm in a very special position, I'm the wife of the Prime Minister, I have an interesting job and a wonderful family, but I also know I am not Superwoman,' she tearfully said in a statement to the press.
ITV News
11 hours ago
- ITV News
Manchester-born Star Wars actor Kevin Colley dies aged 87
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley has died at the age of 87 after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia, his agent has said. The film and television actor from Manchester is best known for starring in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as Admiral Piett, an imperial officer in command of Darth Vader's flagship. Colley's agent of 10 years, Julian Owen, issued a statement which said that he died 'peacefully' on Monday June 30 in Ashford, Kent. The statement said: 'He had been admitted after a fall with an injured arm, however he quickly contracted Covid which developed into pneumonia. He passed away peacefully with friends at his bedside. 'Ken Colley was one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years. 'Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell films, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure for the BBC.' In later years he reprised his role of Admiral Piett when he voiced the character in the 2012 animated Lego production, Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. He also had parts in international productions including Clint Eastwood's Firefox and the Second World War series War and Remembrance. The statement added: 'Ken's favourite part was playing Estragon in the stage production of Beckett's classic Waiting for Godot at the Cockpit Theatre in London in 2014. 'Ken's participation in Star Wars led him to being invited to conventions and official fan events all over the World where he remains one of the best loved actors from the original trilogy.' Ken loved his garden, art collecting and had a passion for fast cars.'Colley is also known for playing Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian alongside English actors' John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Michael Palin.
