David Prowse, ‘Star Wars’ Actor Behind Darth Vader’s Mask, Dies at 85
David Prowse, the British bodybuilder-turned-actor best known for embodying Darth Vader in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, has died at age 85.“It’s with great regret and heart-wrenching sadness for us and million of fans around the world, to announce that our client Dave Prowse M.B.E. has passed away at the age of 85,” his management team at Bowington Management announced on Sunday. Prowse had undergone treatment for prostate cancer two years ago, according to CNN.Prowse was best known for his role in the “Star Wars” series, in which he embodied the villainous Sith lord Darth Vader — while American actor James Earl Jones’ voice was dubbed in to replace Prowse’s thick West Country accent.The 6-foot-6-inch actor first rose to fame as a bodybuilder who competed for Great Britain in the Commonwealth Games in the early 1960s.He landed his first film role, as Frankenstein’s monster, ...