Clive Revill, who voiced Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars, has died. He was 94.
Revill’s death was confirmed by his daughter, who told TMZ he had been battling dementia prior to his March 11 death at a Sherman Oaks, California, assisted-living facility.
“My husband, and our 7-year-old daughter relocated from Redwood City to care for him in 2002. He actually completed his last motion picture in 2016 directed by Fernando Trueba which he enjoyed tremendously,” she told the outlet.
She continued, “As a professional, he was never short on time or generosity when speaking with younger people who wished to enter into the world of show business. He spoke at UT’s Theatre Under the Stars, Magic Con, and Wizard Con. He is also one of the last performers who worked with Billy Wilder and Irving Kirshner. Whether encouraging me through medical school or being a wonderful dad, he covered all the bases.”
Revill’s Star Wars work included a role in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, the 1980 film in which he voiced the supervillain also known as Darth Sidious. While Revill provided the voice for Palpatine in Empire Strikes Back, actor Ian McDiarmid physically portrayed the character in later films.
Revill was born April 18, 1930 in Wellington, New Zealand. He attended Rongotai College and Victoria University (Wellington), and switched career paths after initially training to become an accountant, moving to England to take classes at London’s Old Vic School.
After a stint appearing in multiple Shakespeare productions and acting on Broadway — where he received two Tony award nominations — Revill began his career in film and television, which eventually spanned hundreds of credits. Some of his early roles include The Adventures of Robin Hood series, the 1966 films Modesty Blaise and Kaleidoscope, and the series The Inside Man.
His other notable credits include The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, Maude, Columbo, 1978’s Matilda, Hart to Hart, Remington Steele, Dynasty, The Facts of Life, T.J. Hooker, Magnum, P.I. and The Twilight Zone, among others.
More recently, Revill appeared in The Closer, Intrepid and the Clueless TV show. His final role is listed on IMDb as 2016’s The Queen of Spain.
He is survived by his daughter, Kate.
The post R.I.P. Clive Revill: ‘Star Wars’ Actor Dead At 94 appeared first on Decider.
