STAR WARS Creator George Lucas Shares A Touching Tribute To Late Darth Vader Actor David Prowse

On Sunday morning, the news broke that Star Wars actor David Prowse had passed away at age 85 after suffering from an undisclosed illness. While he didn't provide the iconic villain's voice, he was the one inside the suit who brought him to life on set. 

Now, the franchise's creator, George Lucas, has shared his tribute to the late actor via StarWars.com. 

"David brought a physicality to Darth Vader that was essential for the character. He made Vader leap off the page and on to the big screen, with an imposing stature and movement performance to match the intensity and undercurrent of Vader’s presence. David was up for anything and contributed to the success of what would become a memorable, tragic figure. May he rest in peace."

It's a touching tribute, but Lucas and Prowse didn't actually have the closest of relationships. The actor felt betrayed when he learned his voice wouldn't be used for Darth Vader, and was later blamed with leaking the villain's death in Return of the Jedi and the revelation that he was Luke Skywalker's father in The Empire Strikes Back. It was later reported that Lucas mostly chose to use stuntman Bob Anderson in the final instalment of the original Star Wars trilogy. 

Prowse was also unhappy with another actor being unmasked as Anakin Skywalker, and it's unclear whether he and Lucas were able to put their considerable differences to one side before he passed. 

Regardless, the filmmaker clearly values what Prowse brought to the role of Darth Vader in those early Star Wars movies if this tribute is anything to go by.