Memorial of deceased actors, artists, and authors

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



Deaths in 1978

 * Leigh Brackett wrote the first draft of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. She passed away on March 18, 1978 after a battle with cancer.

Deaths in 1979

 * John Barry was the production designer for A New Hope and second unit director for 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 from 1979-1980. He died of cancer on January 12, 1981.
 * Eddie Byrne portrayed General Vanden Willard in Episode V. He died on August 2, 1981.

Deaths in 1987

 * Richard Marquand directed Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He died on September 4, 1987 of a heart attack.

Deaths in 1988

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

Deaths in 1990

 * Alex McCrindle portrayed Jan Dodonna in Episode IV. He passed away April 20, 1990.

Deaths in 1991

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

Deaths in 1992

 * Anthony Lang portrayed BoShek in Episode IV. He died on March 2, 1992.

Deaths in 1994

 * Peter Cushing portrayed Grand Moff Tarkin in A New Hope. He passed away in August.
 * Tarik, the primary source for the voice of Chewbacca passed away in 1994 due to congestive heart failure. He was a black bear living in San Jose's Happy Hollow Zoo.
 * Sebastian Shaw portrayed Anakin Skywalker in the original version of Return of the Jedi. He died December 23, 1994.

Deaths in 1995

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

Deaths in 1996

 * Brian Daley was 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 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 6. He died in November of 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 in July 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 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

 * 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-IV, died on November 12, 2001. He and David Prowse actually met on 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 did 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 the Marvel Star Wars series. He passed away on November 26, 2006.

Deaths in 2007

 * Christine Hewett played Shada D'ukal, one of the "Tonnika sisters", in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. She passed away on September 19, 2007.

Deaths in 2008

 * Mark Haigh-Hutchinson was the project leader for Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and Shadows of the Empire, 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 was a comedian and actress who portrayed Ackmena in The Star Wars Holiday Special. She passed away on April 25, 2009 from cancer at the age of 86.
 * Don Ivan Punchatz was a science fiction writer and did make the first Star Wars poster. He did pass away on October 22, 2009 from cardiac arrest.

Deaths in 2010

 * Gareth Wigan was an executive producer from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. He died on 13 February 2010.
 * Al Williamson was a comic illustrator noted for his work on various Marvel Star Wars and Classic Star Wars comics. He died on June 14, 2010 after a long illness.
 * Alan Hume was the cinematographer for Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He died on July 13, 2010.
 * Irvin Kershner was the director of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. He died on November 29, 2010 after a long illness.
 * Grant McCune was the chief modelmaker on Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. He died on December 27, 2010 from complications of pancreatic cancer.

Deaths in 2012

 * Bob Anderson was the swordmaster who played Darth Vader in his fight scenes in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He died on January 1, 2012.
 * Ian Abercrombie provided the voice for Palpatine/Darth Sidious in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars film and TV Series. He passed away on January 26, 2012.
 * Ralph McQuarrie was a concept artist who developed much of the visual look of the original trilogy. He passed away on March 3, 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 the part of Admiral Motti in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, passed away on April 15, 2013, at age 66.