Just last month, it was announced that David Prowse had sadly passed away at the age of 85. Prowse was of course best known for playing Darth Vader in Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. In a statement following Prowse's character, Star Wars creator George Lucas said, "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."
In a recent statement to Empire, Mark Hamill paid his own tribute to his on-screen father.
The first time I met Dave was when he came on set in the full Darth Vader outfit. I’d seen Ralph McQuarrie’s concept art, but to see it fully realised was stunning. A big part of that was just Dave’s size. He was a towering figure with this magnificent presence. Although we didn’t know it at the time, we were seeing the creation of one of the most iconic, enduring and feared villains of all time. That’s a tribute to him and to George Lucas’s storyline, because he’s only in that original film for less than ten minutes.
"I want Dave to be remembered for what a kind and genuine person he was," Hamill added. "It seems so ironic that someone as ruthless, cold-hearted and evil as Darth Vader was portrayed by someone who was really a gentle giant. Dave was the opposite of everything Darth Vader was." In addition to playing Darth Vader, David Prowse also appeared in Casino Royale, Hammerhead, The Horror of Frankenstein, A Clockwork Orange, Vampire Circus, Black Snake, Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell, Jabberwocky, The People That Time Forgot, and much more.