David Prowse, towering actor who played Darth Vader in 'Star Wars,' dies aged 85 - NBC News

David Prowse, the towering actor who terrified generations of movie-watchers as playing Darth Vader in the three original 'Star Wars' trilogy, has died aged 85.

He died after a short illness, his agent Thomas Bowington confirmed to NBC News Sunday morning.

"A constant source of inspiration, encouragement and kindness. A truly and deeply heart wrenching loss for us and millions of fans all over the world!" Bowington said in a statement.

"A loving husband, father and grandfather. May the force be with him, always!"

British actors Peter Cushing, David Prowse, and American actress Carrie Fisher on the set of 'Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope.'Sunset Boulevard / Corbis via Getty Images

Prowse did not provide Vader's voice — that was James Earl Jones — but his muscular 6-foot-6-inch frame became the embodiment of one of the great movie villains.

Born in Bristol, England, in 1935, Prowse was a competitive weightlifter before entering showbusiness, winning the British heavyweight lifting championship three years in a row from 1962. His bodybuilding prowess led him to become a personal trainer to various screen stars, including Christopher Reeve while he was preparing for 'Superman.'

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Prowse had several minor acting roles as monsters and tough guys before his break came courtesy of Stanley Kubrick's controversial and ultra-violent 'A Clockwork Orange' in 1971, in which he played a bodyguard. He was also well known to British children in the 1970s as the face of a road safety TV campaign — which earned him an MBE, a civil honor awarded by the royal family to recognize contributions to public life.

As a kid Dave Prowse couldn’t be more famous to me; stalking along corridors as evil incarnate in the part of Darth Vader & stopping a whole generation of kiddies from being mown down in street as the Green Cross Code man. Rest in Peace, Bristol’s finest. https://t.co/VYdxM37JWb

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) November 29, 2020

But his most memorable role came as George Lucas was casting for 1977's 'Star Wars: A New Hope.'

"George said he could offer me two parts — the first was a hairy gorilla called Chewbacca," Prowse told the Bristol Post newspaper on a trip to his home city in 2009.

"I said I wasn't too interested because I didn't want to wear a mask — I wanted to play a part where people could see my face.

"He said the other part was the central villain and I told him, 'That will do'. But I never realized the villain would also be wearing a mask!"

Actor David Prowse, who portrayed Darth Vader, signs autographs during the opening day of 'Star Wars Celebration IV' in Los Angeles May 24, 2007.Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Prowse toured the world visiting fan conventions for 40 years, until his retirement from public life in 2016 due to ill health.

Patrick Smith

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

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