All 21 Star Wars Actors That Died
Since its screen debut in 1977, the Star Wars franchise has grown to be liked by many as it changed the way Hollywood made their films. In fact, It had so much of an impact that new Star Wars movies are still being made with the latest one coming out in 2023. This accumulates to a total of 46 years in the making.
Even though most of the cast has changed for the new trilogy (episodes VII, VIII, IX) that came out in 2015, the actors that played the beloved characters in the original trilogy (episodes IV, V, and VI) are talked about and remembered to this day. Remembered since many of them had passed and left us a legacy that will be talked about for generations to come. So, without any more hesitation, here’s a list of all Star Wars actors that died in alphabetical order.
Editor’s Note: This Post is regularly updated to bring you the latest news regarding both the current and former cast of the Star Wars franchise.
1. Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan-Kenobi)
Sir Alec Guinness’ career didn’t just begin blossoming after his role in Star Wars as Obi-Wan-Kenobi in the original 1977 film although he did get nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting role. He saw the same result after his role in The Lavander Hill Mob for which he received his first-ever Academy Award nomination. It’s worth noting that his nomination for a best supporting role in Star Wars is the only acting nomination the trilogy ever received.
Guinness lived a long and fruitful life but was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the early 2000s when he was 86 years old. His battle with the disease ended half a year later.
2. Alex McCrindle (General Jan Dodonna)
Although he was best known for his role in Star wars, Alex’s career took off in the year 1951 when he starred in his first film in the US called The House In The Square. He did five more movies and then transitioned to TV acting. After episode IV, he went back to television acting.
He passed on the 20th of April 1990 in a hospital in London.
3. Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia)
Even if you haven’t watched a single Star Wars episode, you’ll know who Carrie Fisher is. For most of us fans, Princess Leia represented and still represents hope, equality, and feminism. She was, after all, both a princess and a general, a survivor but also a fierce fighter that helped lead the rebels to victory over the empire.
She was only 60 years old when she passed in 2016 due to cardiac arrest in an airplane.
4. Christopher Lee (Count Dooku)
Christopher Lee was a fantastic antagonist in general not only because of his role as a Sith Lord Count Dooku in Star Wars but also because of his role as Saruman in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. He was greatly appreciated in the Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres and did amazing voice work for films and video games as well.
Although we were sad to see him go, the actor was 93 years old when he died due to cardiac arrest so you can be sure he shared his talent with the fans to his fullest extent.
5. Ed Asner (Jabba The Hutt)
Ed Asner voiced Jabba the Hutt in the 1996 radio adaptation of episode VI. His role was minor but we still remember him as the guy that brought Jabba to life. He also became the voice of a Jedi master in 2 Star Wars games.
Asner died in 2021, aged 91 in his home in Los Angeles of natural causes.
6. Felix Silla (Ewok)
You have to love Ewoks, they’re cute, cuddly, and tiny, but nonetheless helped the Rebels defeat the empire. You won’t recognize Felix Silla if you try to find him in the movie, but he was there and he fought well as a hang-gliding Ewok.
He was born in 1937 and died recently, in 2021. Playing the role of a crazy, small, fighting Ewok suited him well since he was a stuntman and trained as a circus performer.
7. Gerald Home (Tessek)
He was most known for his roles in Star Wars: Episode VI, Return of the Jedi where he played both Tessek and Captain Verrack even though he remains uncredited for the roles. Other roles that had an impact on his career were Undertaker which was released in 2010 and Chatroom released in 2010 as well.
Much like Felix Silla, he died in 2021 as a 70-year-old.
8. Harry Fielder (Corporal Grenwick)
Although many of his roles are either uncredited or minor, Harry fielder still played in big titles some of which include Superman, Doctor Who, 101 Dalmatians, and of course, Star Wars Episode IV.
Fielder passed on in 2021 at the age of 80 and showed us that you don’t have to make it big to actually make it.
9. Jack Purvis (Chief Jawa, Chief Ugnaught, Teebo the Ewok)
Purvis starred in all 3 episodes of the original trilogy. The roles he had were minor but you have to give him credit for appearing in all 3 episodes of the most beloved fan trilogy of them all. A fun fact about Purvis is that he is the voice of Bashful in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Purvis passed away in 1997, fourteen years after episode VI was released.
10. John Hollis (Lobot)
John Hollis had nothing short of an amazing career. He played Lobot in episode V and also appeared in the 1980s movie Flash Gordon and the first two Superman movies released. He is most known for his role in James Bond: For Your Eyes Only as Ernst Stavro.
Hollis died in 2005 in London, aged 77 London, England.
11. Jason Wingreen (Boba Fett)
The galaxy’s most famous bounty hunter passed away in 2015 when he was 95 years old. Although the role didn’t require him to talk much, when he did, his deep voice helped fans fall in love with the character.
He was born and raised in New York City and died at the age of 95 in Los Angeles California in 2015.
12. Kenny Baker (R2-D2)
If you ever wondered how Baker fit into the R2-D2 shell his height of only 3 feet and 8 inches certainly explains it. He played the role for both the original and the prequel trilogy
It’s also worth mentioning that he played an Ewok and Paploo as well. The actor died in 2008 at the age of 81 while the exact cause of his death remains a mystery.
13. Phil Brown (Uncle Owen)
George Lucas cast Phill Brown for the role of Uncle Owen as he was trying to find actors with a strong American accent. Just like Harry Fielder, he appeared in Superman as a State Senator but his role was credited.
The actor died on February 6th, 2006 at the age of 89 in Los Angeles, California.
14. Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin)
Prior to appearing in Star Wars: Episode IV, he’d appeared in an extensive list of horror movies. His most important role was The Curse of Frankenstein released back in 1957 where he played the role of Victor Frankenstein.
The actor behind the man in charge of the creation of the Death Star died on August 11th in 1994 when he was 81 years old.
15. Phil Eason (Yaddle)
Phill Eason appeared as Yaddle in the first episode of the prequel trilogy but it’s not like he was actually Yaddle. He was a puppeteer in control of the Jedi.
He as well as many others, died in 2021 at the young age of 60, much like Carrie Fisher.
16. Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
The Wookiee’s original actor got to experience some of the new glory that would behold the new cast of the third trilogy seeing as he played Chewbacca in episode VII released in 2015.
He wouldn’t make it for the VIII episode since he died on April 30th, 2019 at the age of 74.
17. Ralph Mcquarrie (rebel General Pharl McQuarrie)
Mcquarrie was a concept artist and the character he portrayed was made as an on-screen cameo in Episode V hence the anagram of his name – Pharl.
The concept artist and actor died in 2012 at the age of 82. Some of his work included Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and E.T.
18. Shelagh Fraser (Aunt Beru)
Aunt Beru can be put in the same category as Uncle Ben seeing as she is Luke Skywalkers’ aunt. The actress was known for her role in the TV series A Family at War.
Shelagh died 6 years before Brown back in the year 2000 as a 79-year-old.
19. Sebastian Shaw (Darth Vader)
Did you know that not even Shaws’ family knew he was cast as Darth Vader until the movie came out? The reason for it was that they wanted to make it as dramatic as possible when the reveal at the end of Return of the Jedi came and surely, they succeeded.
The actor died aged 89 on December 23rd, 1994. Many years have passed since his death, but he remains one of the greatest villains we love.
20. Trisha Noble (Jopbal Naberrie)
Trisha Noble might have played a minor role in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but it was still nice to see Padme’s mom come to life on screen. She won an award in 1962 but it wasn’t for acting. Instead, she won a Logie award for the best female singer.
The actress died in 2021 at the age of 76, 15 years after she retired from her singing and acting career.
21. William Hootkins (Jek Porkins)
The first rebel pilot that died in the Death Star attack, Jek Porkins will surely be remembered for years to come. The actor was born in 1948 and died in 2005 at the age of 57.
He played a minor role in Batman, Superman, and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark as well but since you’re reading this and made it this far, you’re likely to remember him from Star Wars.
22. Ray Stevenson (Gar Saxon)
Ray Stevenson, born in 1964 will stay remembered as the voice behind Gar Saxon in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars: Rebels.” Stevenson was set to have a role in the upcoming “Ahsoka” series as the villain Baylan Skoll. Stevenson passed away on May 21, 2023, at 58 years old during the production of Cassino in Ischia, Italy. This unfortunate event occurred just four days prior to his 59th birthday.
