British actor Michael Pennington, known for his role in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, has died at the age of 82.
According to The Telegraph, Pennington passed away on Sunday, though no cause of death was immediately disclosed.
Pennington is best remembered by international audiences for portraying Death Star commander Moff Jerjerrod in the 1983 blockbuster Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.
A respected figure in British theatre, he also delivered notable performances on stage and screen, including playing Laertes in Hamlet (1969) and portraying former UK Labour leader Michael Foot in The Iron Lady (2011).
Beyond acting, Pennington co-founded the English Shakespeare Company in 1986 alongside director Michael Bogdanov, an initiative dedicated to staging and promoting the works of William Shakespeare.
Despite his association with one of cinema’s most iconic franchises, Pennington was often self-critical of his performance in Star Wars. In a 2012 interview, he admitted he felt he had “overacted horribly,” though he acknowledged the role had become a significant calling card in his career.
“Whenever I come out of the Stage Door after a performance, all people would ask about was ‘Star Wars,’” he said at the time. “Nowadays, there’s less of that and more about ‘The Iron Lady.’”
Pennington married actress Katharine Barker in 1964, with whom he had a son, Mark, before their divorce in 1967. He later shared a long-term relationship with arts administrator Prue Skene, who died last year.
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