Memorial of deceased actors, artists, and authors

This is a memorial page for deceased actors, artists, and authors.



Deaths in 1978

 * Leigh Brackett, who wrote the first draft of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, passed away from cancer on March 18, 1978.

Deaths in 1979

 * John Barry was the production designer for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and second unit director for Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back; he died on June 1, 1979 from meningitis, two weeks into production of the latter.
 * Graham Ashley portrayed Gold Five in Episode IV. He died on October 30, 1979.

Deaths in 1981

 * Russ Manning was the writer and penciller of the Star Wars newspaper comic strip in 1979 and 1980. He died of cancer on January 12, 1981.
 * Eddie Byrne portrayed General Vanden Willard in Episode IV. He died on August 2, 1981.

Deaths in 1987

 * Richard Marquand, who directed Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, passed away from a heart attack at age 49 on September 4, 1987.

Deaths in 1988

 * Barry Gnome portrayed Kabe in Episode IV. He died on March 26, 1988.

Deaths in 1990

 * Alex McCrindle, who portrayed Jan Dodonna in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away at age 78 on April 20, 1990.

Deaths in 1991

 * Vince Colletta inked Star Wars 64: Serphidian Eyes. He passed away in 1991.

Deaths in 1992

 * Anthony Lang, who portrayed Sim Aloo in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, passed away on March 2, 1992.

Deaths in 1994

 * Peter Cushing portrayed Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away from pancreatic cancer at age 81 on August 11, 1994.
 * Tarik, the primary source for the voice of Chewbacca, passed away from congestive heart failure in 1994.
 * Sebastian Shaw portrayed Anakin Skywalker in the original version of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, passed away on December 23, 1994.

Deaths in 1995

 * Morris Bush portrayed Dengar in Episode V. He died in 1995.

Deaths in 1996

 * Brian Daley, the author of The Han Solo Adventures and the Star Wars radio dramas. He passed away on February 11, 1996 from pancreatic cancer.
 * Jeremy Sinden portrayed Dex Tiree in Episode IV. He died on May 29, 1996.

Deaths in 1997

 * Don Henderson portrayed General Cassio Tagge in Episode IV. He died on June 22, 1997.
 * Jack Purvis portrayed the Chief Jawa and Ugnaught in Episodes IV and V, as well as Teebo in Episode VI. He died on November 21, 1997.

Deaths in 1998

 * Archie Goodwin wrote numerous stories for the Star Wars newspaper comic strip and the Marvel Star Wars series. He passed away from cancer on March 1, 1998.

Deaths in 1999

 * Declan Mulholland was the stand-in for Jabba the Hutt in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. He died of a heart attack on July 29, 1999.
 * Mary Kay Bergman voiced 5 characters in the Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace video game. She committed suicide on November 11, 1999.
 * Edvin Biukovic was the penciller for Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair and The Last Command. He died of a brain tumor on December 5, 1999.

Deaths in 2000

 * Gil Kane was an illustrator for Marvel Star Wars. He died January 31, 2000.
 * George Roussos was an illustrator for Marvel Star Wars. He died February 19, 2000.
 * Alfredo Alcala was an illustrator of many Classic Star Wars comics. He died of cancer on April 8, 2000.
 * Chic Stone was the inker for Star Wars 45: Death Probe. He died on July 28, 2000
 * Alec Guinness portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in Episodes IV–VI. He died August 5, 2000.
 * Shelagh Fraser portrayed Aunt Beru in Episode IV. She died September 13, 2000.

Deaths in 2001

 * Tom Chantrell, designed the Style C posters for Star Wars in 1977, He died 15 July 2001.
 * Ted Burnett portrayed Wuher the bartender in Episode IV. He died on October 1, 2001.
 * Heinz Petruo, who voiced Darth Vader for the German edition of Episodes IV–VI, died on November 12, 2001. He and David Prowse actually met at a German Star Wars convention the year before.

Deaths in 2002

 * Claire Davenport portrayed Yarna d'al' Gargan in Episode VI. She died on March 4, 2002.
 * George Alec Effinger wrote The Great God Quay: The Tale of Barada and the Weequays. He died on April 27, 2002.
 * Des Webb portrayed the wampa in Episode V. He died on May 21, 2002.

Deaths in 2003

 * Art Carney portrayed Saun Dann in The Star Wars Holiday Special. He died of natural causes on November 7, 2003 at the age of 85.

Deaths in 2004

 * Peter Diamond was the stunt coordinator on Episodes IV and V, and assisted with stunts on Episode VI. He also played stormtroopers, Tusken Raiders and a snowtrooper throughout the trilogy. He died on March 27, 2004.
 * Bruce Boa portrayed General Rieekan in Episode V. He died on April 17, 2004.

Deaths in 2005

 * Alf Joint was a stunt performer in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. He died on July 25, 2005.
 * Brock Peters voiced Darth Vader in the Star Wars radio adaptations. He passed away on August 23, 2005.
 * Michael Sheard portrayed Admiral Kendal Ozzel in The Empire Strikes Back. He died on August 31, 2005 after a battle with cancer.
 * Hamilton Camp was the voice of Rune Haako in Galactic Battlegrounds. He died of a heart attack on October 2, 2005.
 * Charles Rocket voiced Nym in Star Wars: Starfighter and Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter. He died on October 7, 2005.
 * John Hollis portrayed Lobot in The Empire Strikes Back. He passed away on October 18, 2005.
 * William Hootkins portrayed Jek Porkins in A New Hope. He passed away on October 23, 2005 from pancreatic cancer.

Deaths in 2006

 * Phil Brown played Owen Lars in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. He died on February 9, 2006.
 * Paul Gleason played Jeremitt Towani in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. He passed away due to Mesothelioma on May 27, 2006.
 * Tim Hildebrandt designed one of the original theatrical release posters for Star Wars, as well as artwork for the Shadows of the Empire project. He died from diabetes on June 11, 2006.
 * Lykke Nielsen was the voice for Princess Leia in the Danish Stjernekrigen audio tape. She died of breast cancer on August 29, 2006.
 * Dave Cockrum was a comic-book artist who created several covers for Marvel's Star Wars series. He passed away on November 26, 2006.

Deaths in 2007

 * Christine Hewett, who played Shada D'ukal, one of the "Tonnika sisters," in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away at age 64 on September 19, 2007.
 * Larry Ward, who voiced Greedo in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and Jabba Desilijic Tiure in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, passed away at age 63 on October 15, 2007.

Deaths in 2008

 * Mark Haigh-Hutchinson was the project leader for Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire video game, and worked on other Star Wars games. He passed away on January 15, 2008, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
 * Dwight Hemion was an executive producer of The Star Wars Holiday Special, and part of Smith-Hemion productions. Hemion passed away on January 28 at the age of 81.
 * John Alvin was an artist for various  Star Wars posters, book covers, and video covers. His work included the Jedi Academy trilogy covers and the poster for Celebration IV in 2007. He passed away on February 6, 2008 from a heart attack.
 * Harvey Korman was a comedian who portrayed Krelman, Chef Gormaanda, and an Amorphian instructor in The Star Wars Holiday Special. He passed away on May 29, 2008 at the age of 81.
 * Stan Winston was a visual effects and makeup artist. He worked on the new Wookiee costumes for The Star Wars Holiday Special. He passed away on June 15, 2008 at the age of 62.
 * Don LaFontaine was a voice actor best known for his extensive work in movie trailers and commercials. LaFontaine narrated the 1995 VHS release of The Making of Star Wars. He passed away on September 1, 2008 at the age of 68 following complications from Pneumothorax.

Deaths in 2009

 * Bea Arthur, who portrayed Ackmena in The Star Wars Holiday Special, passed away from cancer at age 86 on April 25, 2005.
 * Don Ivan Punchatz, the science fiction writer who did make the first Star Wars poster, passed away from cardiac arrest on October 22, 2009.

Deaths in 2010

 * Mark Jones, who portrayed Nemet in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, passed away at age 70 on January 14, 2010.
 * Gareth Wigan, an executive producer from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away at age 78 on February 13, 2010.
 * Richard Devon, who provided voice work on Star Wars: Ewoks, passed away from vascular disease at age 83 on February 26, 2010.
 * Al Williamson, a comic illustrator noted for his work on various Marvel Star Wars and Classic Star Wars comics, passed away from a long illness at age 79 on June 14, 2010.
 * Alan Hume, the cinematographer for Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, passed away at age 86 on July 14, 2010.
 * Jackie Burroughs, who voiced Morag in Star Wars: Ewoks, passed away from stomach cancer at age 71 on September 22, 2010.
 * Irvin Kershner, the director of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, passed away from a long illness at age 87 on November 29, 2010.
 * Grant McCune, the chief modelmaker on Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer at age 67 on December 27, 2010.

Deaths in 2012

 * Bob Anderson, the swordmaster who played Darth Vader in his fight scenes in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, passed away at age 89 on January 1, 2012.
 * Ian Abercrombie, who voiced Palpatine/Darth Sidious in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars film and TV series, passed away from kidney failure at age 77 on January 26, 2012.
 * David Anthony Pizzuto, who voiced Tanno Vik and Sedyn Kyne in the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, passed away at age 60 on February 10, 2012.
 * Ralph McQuarrie, the concept artist who developed much of the visual look of the original trilogy, passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease at age 82 on March 3, 2012.
 * Bill Weston, a stuntman who worked in the original trilogy, passed away at age 70 on March 25, 2012.
 * Winston Rekert, who voiced Mungo Baobab and Sise Fromm in Star Wars Droids, passed away at age 63 on September 14, 2012.
 * Colin Higgins, who played Wedge Antilles in the briefing scene of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away in December 2012.

Deaths in 2013

 * Stuart Freeborn was the British make-up artist behind the original Star Wars trilogy. He died at age 96 on February 6, 2013.
 * Carmine Infantino was an artist for dozens of Marvel Star Wars comics. He passed away on April 4, 2013 at age 87.
 * Richard LeParmentier, who played Admiral Motti in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away on April 15, 2013, at age 66.
 * A. C. Crispin, author of The Han Solo Trilogy, died on September 6, 2013 after losing her long battle with cancer.

Deaths in 2014

 * Christopher Malcolm played Rogue Two in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. He died on February 15, 2014 at age 67.
 * Malcolm Tierney played Shann Childsen in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. He died on February 18, 2014 at age 75.
 * Aaron Allston, author of thirteen Star Wars novels, and several short stories, passed away on February 27, 2014, at age 54.
 * Meshach Taylor, who provided the voice of Wedge Antilles in the Star Wars radio drama, died June 28, 2014.
 * Joe Viskocil, a crew member who worked on miniature explosions for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and miniature pyrotechnics for Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, died on August 11, 2014.

Deaths in 2015

 * Khan Bonfils, who portrayed Saesee Tiin in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, passed away from collapsing during rehearsals for a theater production of Dante's Inferno at age 42 on January 5, 2015.
 * Keith Swaden, a stuntman who played rebels and stormtroopers in all three films of the original trilogy, passed away at age 75 on January 18, 2015.
 * Richard Bonehill, noted for playing a snowtrooper, a stormtrooper, and Rebel officer Palo Torshan in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back; and a stormtrooper, a Mon Calamari, an X-wing pilot, a TIE pilot, and named characters Nien Nunb, Ree-Yees, and Mosep Binneed in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi passed away on February 4, 2015.
 * David Esch, who voiced Han Solo in the video game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, passed away at age 65 on April 2, 2015.
 * Sir Christopher Lee, who played Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars film, passed away at age 93 on June 7, 2015.
 * George Coe, who voiced Tee Watt Kaa in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, passed away at age 86 on July 18, 2015.
 * Jason Wingreen was the original voice of Boba Fett before it was replaced by Temuera Morrison's in the Special Edition DVD of The Empire Strikes Back. He passed away at the age of 95 on December 25, 2015.

Deaths in 2016

 * Bill E. Martin, who voiced several characters in video games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace video game, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter and Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance, passed away at age 70 on January 27, 2016.
 * Joe Alaskey, who voiced the Important Merchant, the Interpreter and Watto's flunky in the Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace video game, passed away at age 63 on February 3, 2016.
 * Alethea McGrath, who portrayed Jocasta Nu on Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, passed away at age 96 on February 9, 2016.
 * Drewe Henley, the actor who portrayed Garven Dreis on Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and later phostumously through archive footage on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, passed away at age 75 on February 14, 2016.
 * Ray West, the Oscar award winning sound editor who was credited as being a Re-Recording Mixer on Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away at age 90 on February 17, 2016.
 * Erik Bauersfeld&mdash;the original voice of Gial Ackbar in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, and in the video game Star Wars: X-Wing; and of Bib Fortuna in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi&mdash;passed away at age 93 on April 3, 2016.
 * Ian Watkin, who voiced COO-2180 in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, passed away at age 76 on May 18, 2016.
 * Ronald Falk, the voice of Dexter Jettster on Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, passed away in Australia on June 27, 2016.
 * Kenny Baker was the man inside R2-D2 in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi; he also portrayed Paploo in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. He passed away at age 81 on August 13, 2016.
 * Ian Liston, who played Wes Janson and an AT-AT gunner in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, passed away at age 68 on October 1, 2016.
 * Peter Sumner, who played Lieutenant Pol Treidum in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away from a long illness on November 22, 2016.
 * Carrie Fisher, who portrayed Princess Leia Organa throughout the original trilogy and in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, passed away at age 60 on December 27, 2016.

Deaths in 2017

 * Chris Wiggins, who voiced Mon Julpa in Star Wars: Droids, passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease at age 86 on February 19, 2017.
 * John Forgeham, who portrayed Bolvan in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away from internal bleeding at age 75 on March 10, 2017.
 * Margaret Towner, who portrayed Jira in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, passed away at age 96 on April 10, 2017.
 * John Cygan, who voiced several Star Wars characters such Dash Rendar, Rand Talor, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Canderous Ordo and Ulic Qel-Droma, passed away from cancer at age 63 on May 13, 2017.
 * Andy Cunningham, who was the mime artist and puppeteer for Ephant Mon in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, passed away from cancer at the age of 69 on June 5, 2017.
 * William Hoyland, who portrayed Commander Igar in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, passed away from stomach cancer at the age of 73 on July 15, 2017.
 * John Mollo, the costume designer for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, passed away at the age of 86 on October 25, 2017.
 * Alfie Curtis, who portrayed Doctor Cornelius Evazan in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away at the age of 87 on November 30, 2017.
 * Jim Baikie, a comic-book artist who inked, pecilled and colored Empire's End, passed away at the age of 77 on December 29, 2017.

Deaths in 2018

 * Allison Shearmur, the executive producer of both Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story, passed away from lung cancer at the age of 54 on January 19, 2018.
 * Debbie Lee Carrington, a stuntwoman who portrayed Romba the Ewok in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi and Weechee Warrick in Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure, passed away at the age of 58 on March 23, 2018.
 * Michael Ford, the set decorator of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, passed away at age 90 on May 31, 2018.
 * Bong Dazo, a comic-book artist who penciled many Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic comics and the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed comic-book adaptation, passed away at age 56 on June 29, 2018.
 * Marie Severin, the comic book colorist who worked on several issues of Star Wars, Droids and Ewoks, passed away at the age of 89 on August 30, 2018.
 * Gary Kurtz, the producer for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, passed away from cancer at the age of 78 on September 23, 2018.
 * Marty Balin, lead singer of Jefferson Starship (as the holographic band) in The Star Wars Holiday Special, passed away at age 76 on September 27, 2018.
 * Carlos Ezquerra, the comic book artist who pencilled and inkered the comic book series Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand and the short comic Boba Fett ½: Salvage, passed away at age 70 on October 1, 2018.
 * Stan Lee, editor of Marvel Comics and writer of the introduction of The Marvel Comics Illustrated Version of Star Wars, passed away from pneumonia at age 95 on November 12, 2018.
 * Gloria Katz, who served as script doctor for the first draft of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away from ovarian cancer at age 76 on November 25, 2018.
 * John Wreford, who portrayed Hija in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away at age 75 on December 11, 2018.

Deaths in 2019

 * William Morgan Sheppard, who voiced the Heavy Gun Trooper and the Ruulian Strip Miner in Star Wars: Force Commander, passed away at age 86 on January 6, 2019.
 * Bronco McLoughlin, a stuntman who played a stormtrooper in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away on March 26, 2019.
 * Shane Rimmer, who played the Rebel Crew Chief in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, passed away at age 89 on March 29, 2019.
 * Vonda N. McIntyre, the author of The Crystal Star, passed away at age 70 on April 1, 2019.