British actor Michael Culver, famed for his cameo role in iconic science fiction epic The Empire Strikes Back, has passed away aged 85.
Culver’s passing was announced by his agent on Wednesday and comes after the actor suffered a long battle with poor health. His cause of death has not been disclosed.
Confirming the actor’s passing in a statement, they said: ‘We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client Michael Culver.
‘A career spanning over 50 years with notable roles in Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India, Secret Army and of course one of the most memorable death scenes in the Star Wars franchise.
‘Michael largely gave up acting in the early 2000’s to concentrate his efforts into his political activism.
British actor Michael Culver, famed for his cameo role in iconic science fiction epic The Empire Strikes Back (pictured, right), has passed away aged 85
Culver’s passing was announced by his agent on Wednesday and comes after the actor suffered a long battle with poor health
It’s been an honor to have represented Michael for for the last decade and to have taken him to some of the best Star Wars events in the UK and Europe.
‘A real highlight was taking Michael to Celebration in Chicago in 2019. He was lost for words when he saw his queue line with nearly 200 people waiting to see him.
‘We worked with Michael just 3 weeks ago at his last home signing with our friends at Elite Signatures.
‘Michael died on Tuesday 27th February at the age of 85. We miss him.’
Born in Hampstead and trained at the London Academy of Dramatic Art, Culver began his career onstage with Dundee Repertory Theatre, where he appeared in 35 plays across a two year period, before branching into classical Shakespeare at The Old Vic and the more contemporary Ibsen in London’s West End.
His first, uncredited film role came in 1963 with a fleeting appearance in James Bond classic From Russia With Love. He would return to the spy franchise two years later, playing a Vulcan bomber crewman in Thunderball.
But his most enduring big screen role would come in 1980, with a part in the Irvin Kershner directed Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back.
The actor featured among a sprawling cast-list as Captain Lorth Needa, a veteran fleet officer responsible for commanding the Avenger – an Imperial Star Destroyer within Darth Vader’s vast squadron.
Culver began his career in theatre before branching into TV and film in the early 1960s. Here he is seen in a 1965 episode of Court Martial
His most enduring role would come in 1980, with a part in the Irvin Kershner directed Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back, in which he played the doomed Imperial Captain Lorth Needa
That same year Culver featured in iconic TV series Hammer House Of Horror, starring in stand alone episode Charlie Boy (pictured)
In 1986 he starred alongside the late Jeremy Brett in The Return of Sherlock Holmes, playing Sir Reginald Musgrave (pictured)
Needa ultimately faces Vadar’s wrath, and a premature end, with the Dark Lord using the Force to telekinetically strangle him to death.
Paying tribute to the actor on X, formerly Twitter, the Star Wars Underworld fan account posted: ‘Culver was best know to Star Wars fans for portraying Captain Lorth Needa in The Empire Strikes Back.
‘He also had a variety of roles across many stage, screen and radio productions.’
Culver also featured in David Lean’s historical 1982 epic A Passage To India, in which he starred alongside Peggy Ashcroft, James Fox and Sir Alec Guinness as Major McBryde.
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