Latest news with #Colley
Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley dies at 87
Kenneth Colley played Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return Of The Jedi (1983). NEW YORK - English actor Kenneth Colley, who is best known for his role as Admiral Firmus Piett in the original Star Wars trilogy (1977 to 1983), died on June 30 in Ashford, England. He was 87. Colley's agent Julian Owen said in a statement that the actor died in a hospital from complications of pneumonia after contracting Covid-19. Colley became a memorable screen presence for international audiences who could recognise his dour, stony face even if they did not know his name. A versatile supporting actor, he was often tapped to play stern detectives, military men and, on multiple occasions, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. He had been active for nearly two decades onstage and on-screen before his appearance in The Empire Strikes Back (1980). His stone-cold portrayal of Admiral Piett, the trusted officer of villain Darth Vader, in the sequel to Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), turned him into a fan favourite and earned him a call back for Return Of The Jedi (1983). In a 2014 interview, Colley recalled that when he walked into an office to meet Irvin Kershner, the director of The Empire Strikes Back, Kershner told him he was looking for 'someone that would frighten Adolf Hitler'. Colley, with his gaunt face and steely eyes, fit the bill. Admiral Piett is appointed top commander of the Imperial fleet after his superior is killed by Darth Vader (whose physical presence is played by late English actor David Prowse) for his poor judgment. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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The film grossed more than US$200 million in its original release, according to the site Box Office Mojo, with Admiral Piett emerging as an unexpected crowd pleaser. As Colley liked to recall, the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas, asked him to come back for Return Of The Jedi after he received a flood of fan letters curious about Admiral Piett's backstory. Although the character was not included in the original script, Lucas wrote him into new scenes while on set. In the finished film, Admiral Piett leads the Imperial fleet until the damaged command ship crashes into the Death Star at the Battle of Endor. Colley relished the popularity of his role and appeared at conventions and fan events in the subsequent decades. He continued to interpret a wide assortment of roles, including an impudent left-wing journalist in a 1987 stage adaptation of John Hale's spy novel The Whistle Blower (1984), but he mostly played villains, which, he told the magazine Star Wars Insider in 1987, was 'fine by me'. 'If you can burrow in deep and find some life there,' he said, 'that makes it interesting – you want to know more about this uniform.' Kenneth Colley was born on Dec 7, 1937, in Manchester, England. He began acting at the Bromley Repertory Company, where he worked as an assistant stage manager, according to British newspaper The Guardian, and joined The Living Theatre in Leicester in the early 1960s. He also trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company and with late English actor Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company. In the 1960s, Colley played bit roles in various TV series and televised theatre productions, including ITV Play Of The Week; the anthology drama series Thirty-Minute Theatre, taking on the parts of Charles I and Hitler; and BBC Play Of The Month. He played a stammering accordion player in Pennies From Heaven (1978), a major in The Danedyke Mystery (1979) and Jesus in the film Monty Python's Life Of Brian (1979). Colley married Mary Dunne in 1962. She died in 2018. Information on his survivors was not immediately available. His other notable performances include the Duke of Vienna in Measure For Measure, a 1979 BBC Shakespeare production; Adolf Eichmann in Wallenberg (1985); and a cranky recluse in a Nancy Meckler 2000 revival of Brecht's 1939 play Mother Courage And Her Children, a role he 'brilliantly played for one scene only', as late theatre critic Sheridan Morley wrote in The International Herald Tribune newspaper. In a hot streak during the 1980s, Colley acted in American actor-director Clint Eastwood's Firefox (1982); in Giro City (1982), a drama about investigative journalism and censorship starring late English actress Glenda Jackson; as the titular vice-admiral in the British historical miniseries I Remember Nelson (1982); and alongside late American actor Gregory Peck in the TV movie The Scarlet And The Black (1983). 'In one year, I worked with Clint Eastwood, Gregory Peck and David Prowse,' he recalled in 1987. 'I got a crick in my neck from always looking up toward the stars.' NYTIMES
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kenneth Colley, the Star Wars actor, dies aged 87 from Covid‑19–related pneumonia
Image credits: X Kenneth Colley , the steely-eyed British actor best known for his role as Admiral Piett in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, has died. He was 87. With his gaunt features and quiet authority, Colley stood out in a galaxy packed with larger-than-life characters—earning a rare return for a second film as Darth Vader's highest-ranking officer. His agent, Julian Owen, confirmed that Colley died on June 30 at a hospital in Ashford, England, from complications of pneumonia after contracting COVID-19. He had injured his arm in a fall and became ill while hospitalized, an all-too-familiar trajectory during the pandemic years, when hospital-acquired infections sharply increased pneumonia risk, particularly among the elderly. Coronavirus and Pneumonia Image credits: X While many people who contract COVID-19 only feel symptoms similar to a rough seasonal bug, there are others for whom the virus takes a sharper turn. In some cases, the symptoms can spread into the lungs and trigger pneumonia across both. COVID-related pneumonia has proven to be especially aggressive and, at times, fatal. Pneumonia: Risks, symptoms, and what it is Image credits: X Pneumonia itself isn't new. It's an infection of the lungs where the tiniest air sacs, known as alveoli, become inflamed. In severe cases, these sacs flood with fluid or pus, cutting off oxygen and making every breath feel like a struggle. People often report exhaustion, chest discomfort, fever, and a cough that doesn't let up. Treatments range from over-the-counter fever reducers to hospital care with oxygen or, in the worst scenarios, ventilators. Though pneumonia can follow colds or flu, it's not limited to viruses. Bacteria, fungi, or any other invading organism can be behind it. But what sets COVID-19 pneumonia apart is how quickly it can escalate. Preliminary signs of COVID-19 include: fever, a dry cough, shortness of breath, Fatigue, chills, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain, loss of smell or taste, sore throat, runny nose, pinkeye, and skin rashes. If your COVID-19 infection begins to develop into pneumonia, the symptoms can also include rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, dizziness, and heavy sweating. People who are most at risk are older people, above the age of 65 in general, and even more so if past 85. Further, people who are already dealing with chronic diseases like asthma, heart disease, and liver disease are also at risk due to weak metabolism and immunity.
Boston Globe
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Kenneth Colley, 87, ‘Star Wars' actor with a commanding presence, dies
Advertisement In a 2014 interview, he recalled that when he walked into an office to meet Irvin Kershner, the director of 'The Empire Strikes Back,' Kershner told him he was looking for 'someone that would frighten Adolf Hitler.' Colley, with his gaunt face and steely eyes, fit the bill. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Admiral Piett is appointed top commander of the Imperial fleet after his superior is killed by Darth Vader (whose physical presence is played by David Prowse) for his poor judgment. Mr. Colley often said that he saw Admiral Piett as a shrewd operator who followed orders for the sake of survival in Darth Vader's world. In his interpretation of the character, he reinforced the severity and tension felt in the camp as the Rebel alliance evades capture. Advertisement The film grossed more than $200 million in its original release, according to the site Box Office Mojo, with Admiral Piett emerging as an unexpected crowd pleaser. As Mr. Colley liked to recall, the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas, asked him to come back for 'Return of the Jedi' (1983) after he received a flood of fan letters curious about Admiral Piett's backstory. Although the character wasn't included in the original script, Lucas wrote him into new scenes while on set. In the finished film, Admiral Piett leads the Imperial fleet until he is shot down by a Rebel fighter at the Battle of Endor. Mr. Colley relished the popularity of his role and appeared at conventions and fan events in the subsequent decades. He continued to interpret a wide assortment of roles, including an impudent left-wing journalist in a 1987 stage adaptation of John Hale's spy novel 'The Whistle Blower' (1984), but he mostly played villains, which, he told the magazine Star Wars Insider in 1987, was 'fine by me.' 'If you can burrow in deep and find some life there,' he said, 'that makes it interesting — you want to know more about this uniform.' Kenneth Colley was born Dec. 7, 1937, in Manchester, England. He began acting at the Bromley Repertory Company, where he worked as an assistant stage manager, according to The Guardian, and joined The Living Theater in Leicester in the early 1960s. He also trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company and with Laurence Olivier's National Theater Company. In the 1960s, he played bit roles in various TV series and televised theater productions, including 'ITV Play of the Week'; the anthology drama series 'Thirty-Minute Theater,' taking on the parts of Charles I and Hitler; and 'BBC Play of the Month.' He played a stammering accordion player in 'Pennies from Heaven' (1978), a major in 'The Danedyke Mystery' (1979) and Jesus in the film 'Monty Python's Life of Brian' (1979). Advertisement Mr. Colley married Mary Dunne in 1962. She died in 2018. Information on his survivors was not immediately available. His other notable performances include the Duke of Vienna in 'Measure for Measure,' a 1979 BBC Shakespeare production; Adolf Eichmann in 'Wallenberg' (1985); and a cranky recluse in a Nancy Meckler 2000 revival of Brecht's 1939 play 'Mother Courage and Her Children,' a role he 'brilliantly played for one scene only,' as Sheridan Morley wrote in The International Herald Tribune. In a hot streak during the 1980s, he acted in Clint Eastwood's 'Firefox' (1982); 'Giro City' (1982), as the titular vice admiral in the British miniseries 'I Remember Nelson' (1982); and alongside Gregory Peck in the TV movie 'The Scarlet and the Black' (1983). 'In one year, I worked with Clint Eastwood, Gregory Peck, and David Prowse,' he recalled in 1987. 'I got a crick in my neck from always looking up toward the stars!' This article originally appeared in
Hamilton Spectator
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian women set to square off with U.S. in AmeriCup semifinals
SANTIAGO - Canada and the United States will square off in Saturday's semifinal at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup tournament. Canada punched its ticket to the final four for a ninth consecutive time in the event with a 73-49 win over Colombia in Friday's quarterfinals. The U.S. squashed the Dominican Republic 110-44. Brazil and Argentina will meet in the other semifinal. Canada, which has a 4-1 record in the 2025 tournament, broke Friday's game wide open in the second quarter, turning a seven-point lead into a 21-point advantage at halftime. Shay Colley led Canada with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from two-point range, while adding eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. She now has 212 career points at the Women's AmeriCup, moving to sixth all-time among Canadians since 2003. 'We're excited about being able to move on to the next round and play in the semifinals,' said Canadian head coach Nell Fortner. 'I thought our defence was pretty strong today. There are some areas we need to clean up, but we were locked in defensively. If we can smooth out the offence (on Saturday), it'll put us in a better position.' Yvonne Ejim matched Colley's 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Kayla Alexander contributed across the board with eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks in the win. 'I thought we did a great job as a team coming in and applying pressure, pushing the pace at the start of the game,' said Colley. Canada dominated the glass with a 46-32 rebounding advantage and generated 15 points off 18 Colombian turnovers. Six players scored seven or more points, and the team collected 12 steals in a well-rounded defensive performance. Canada also outscored Colombia 13-4 in fast-break points and held its opponent to zero second-chance opportunities. Through five games, Canada's average margin of victory stands at plus-28 — the team's highest at the AmeriCup since 2015. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian women set to square off with U.S. in AmeriCup semifinals
SANTIAGO – Canada and the United States will square off in Saturday's semifinal at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup tournament. Canada punched its ticket to the final four for a ninth consecutive time in the event with a 73-49 win over Colombia in Friday's quarterfinals. The U.S. squashed the Dominican Republic 110-44. Brazil and Argentina will meet in the other semifinal. Canada, which has a 4-1 record in the 2025 tournament, broke Friday's game wide open in the second quarter, turning a seven-point lead into a 21-point advantage at halftime. Shay Colley led Canada with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from two-point range, while adding eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. She now has 212 career points at the Women's AmeriCup, moving to sixth all-time among Canadians since 2003. 'We're excited about being able to move on to the next round and play in the semifinals,' said Canadian head coach Nell Fortner. 'I thought our defence was pretty strong today. There are some areas we need to clean up, but we were locked in defensively. If we can smooth out the offence (on Saturday), it'll put us in a better position.' Yvonne Ejim matched Colley's 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Kayla Alexander contributed across the board with eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks in the win. 'I thought we did a great job as a team coming in and applying pressure, pushing the pace at the start of the game,' said Colley. Canada dominated the glass with a 46-32 rebounding advantage and generated 15 points off 18 Colombian turnovers. Six players scored seven or more points, and the team collected 12 steals in a well-rounded defensive performance. Canada also outscored Colombia 13-4 in fast-break points and held its opponent to zero second-chance opportunities. Through five games, Canada's average margin of victory stands at plus-28 — the team's highest at the AmeriCup since 2015. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025.
