Kenneth Colley, an actor greatest identified for enjoying considered one of Darth Vader’s admirals within the unique Star Wars trilogy has died aged 87.
Information of his passing was shared by each the BBC and Individuals this week, and affirmation got here from his agent, Julian Owen, yesterday (July 3).
In an announcement to Individuals, Owen mentioned that the actor died on Sunday (June 30) whereas at his dwelling in Kent. He additionally shared that Colley was admitted to the hospital after he injured his arm in a fall. From there, he sadly contracted COVID, and this developed right into a analysis of pneumonia.
“He handed away peacefully with associates at his bedside,” Owen added, whereas additionally praising Colley as “considered one of our most interesting character actors with a profession spanning 60 years”.
“Ken frequently labored on stage, movie and tv taking part in an enormous array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python‘s Lifetime of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell movies, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure for the BBC,” his assertion added.
As aforementioned by Owen, considered one of Colley’s most notable roles included his time within the 1979 Monty Python movie. He’s in all probability much more extensively recognised for his function as Admiral Piett within the unique Star Wars trilogy – seen alongside Darth Vader in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Again and 1983’s Return Of The Jedi.
Kenneth Colley, who performed Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Again and Return of the Jedi, has handed away on the age of 87 as a result of issues from COVID and pneumonia. Could the Power be with you, at all times. pic.twitter.com/3aVIFBLXf9
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) July 3, 2025
His profession started within the early ‘60s, and included roles akin to The Airplane Makers and A for Andromeda. Together with his breakout function in Star Wars, he turned the one actor within the first six films to play an Imperial officer in a couple of movie (through The Atlantic).
Amongst these paying tribute to the actor is his Monty Python co-star Michael Palin, who described Colley in an announcement to The Unbiased as “a really particular actor and an excellent man” and “at all times reliable, at all times convincing and nice to work with”.
Different roles Colley took on throughout his profession included the stage manufacturing of Beckett’s Ready for Godot, which was held on the Cockpit Theatre in London in 2014 and noticed him tackle the character of Estragon. This, his agent mentioned, was his “favorite” function.
Owen additionally added: “Ken’s participation in Star Wars led him to being invited to conventions and official fan occasions all around the world, the place he stays one of many best-loved actors from the unique trilogy. Ken beloved his backyard, artwork amassing and had a ardour for quick automobiles.”
Extra roles he took on in his profession included appearances within the 1988 collection Warfare And Remembrance, and in movies like Firefox (1982), Holding On (1999), and Brassed Off (1997).