Dyer/Legends

"Freeze!"

- Dyer, to Han Solo

Dyer was a Force attuned Human male who held the rank of colonel in the Imperial Army. The Imperial officer worked closely with Tiaan Jerjerrod, an Imperial Moff who oversaw the construction of the second Death Star, while planning the defensive systems of a bunker on the Forest Moon of Endor. The bunker, which generated a shield for the unfinished orbiting Death Star, was under Dyer's supervision and the Colonel himself was responsible for the defense of the installation. In 4 ABY, hoping to destroy the bunker, a group of Rebels infiltrated it and ambushed the Imperial troops stationed there. Dyer then ordered his men to enter the base and capture the intruders. When Dyer confronted Rebel General Han Solo, Solo threw a toolbox filled with explosive charges at the Colonel, causing Dyer to fall over a platform railing.

Biography
Dyer, a Force-sensitive Human male, was an Imperial officer who held the rank of colonel in the Imperial Army. At some point during his service to the Empire, Dyer worked closely with Moff Tiaan Jerjerrod, an Imperial militant who oversaw the construction of the second Death Star, while planning the defensive systems of an installation that supplied a shield for the unfinished orbiting Death Star. The bunker, which was located on the Forest Moon of Endor, was supervised by Dyer himself and the Colonel was also responsible for completed defense of the bunker. As another task, Dyer took part in commanding an elite group of troops guarding the shield generator. The group consisted of members of the 501st Legion, Imperial Lieutenants Grond and Renz, as well as the stormtrooper Wallen.

In 4 ABY, when a group of Rebel Alliance members infiltrated the bunker to destroy the shield generator&mdash;which would allow the Rebels' orbiting fleet to attack the Death Star itself. Grond, who became Dyer's primary aide during the Rebel attack, and Renz joined Dyer, as the Colonel ordered his men to enter the base and stop the intruders. After the Rebel group ambushed the stationed Imperial officers inside the bunker, Dyer confronted Rebel General Han Solo, pointing a blaster pistol at him and ordering the Rebel General to freeze. However, Solo threw a toolbox full of explosive charges at Dyer, which caused the Colonel to fall over the railing of a catwalk and into a generator room below.

Personality and traits
Holding the rank of colonel in the Imperial army, Dyer was a leader Showing disciplinary actions, Dyer confronted those who opposed the Galactic Empire. Unlucky(I105)

Behind the scenes
"I had the opportunity to play a very minor part in the film as an Imperial officer. In the Endor power station, who jumps out from behind a wall, at the power station, and holds a gun on Han Solo then gets hit with a toolbox and then falling into a generator room below. And my big line was 'Freeze!'"

- Ben Burtt, discussing his role in the Return of the Jedi audio commentary

Dyer first appeared as an unnamed Imperial officer in George Lucas' 1983 film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Ben Burtt, the sound designer for the film, was given a small role during production, though his brief cameo was uncredited. Burtt's character was not featured in either the novelization or junior novelization of Return of the Jedi. Concept art for Dyer appeared in the The Art of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. His character was unnamed and shown only as an Imperial officer pointing a blaster pistol at Han Solo. A still image of Dyer was featured in the 1998 Star Wars: Behind the Magic CD-ROM. In 1999, Dyer was featured in the Star Wars Customizable Card Game set Endor Limited. Dyer's card further established his character and identified him as "Colonel Dyer," and his role as the Imperial officer was expanded with two other cards from the set. In 2008, Dyer was given his own entry in the The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.

In the 2004 DVD release of Return of the Jedi, Burtt commented about his cameo as Dyer in the audio commentary. The scream Dyer makes when he is knocked off the catwalk is meant to be an attempt at replicating the Wilhelm scream, which Burtt, in his role as sound designer, has attempted to include in all the films he has worked on.

Hasbro was originally going to include Dyer in a Return of the Jedi themed battle pack titled "Shield Generator Assault," although he was pulled from the set prior to release in 2008. A year later, another Return of the Jedi themed battle pack titled "Battle for Endor" included Dyer, as well as Luke Skywalker and the Ewok Warok.

Appearance differences
"Freeze! Everyone, hands in the air!"

- Dyer's altered line in the Return of the Jedi radio drama

Dyer's brief one line dialogue was spoken by Renz in the Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi PhotoComic. In a similiar manner, the character of Dyer was not created in the original revised third draft of Return of the Jedi screenplay and in The Annotated Screenplays. In the script, both Dyer and Renz's lines were merged and the person who shouts "Freeze! You Rebel Scum" is identified simply as "Commander." Although, in Screenplays, Dyer was identified as "Imperial officer," while Renz was named "Commander." Dyer appeared briefly in the radio adaptation for Return of the Jedi. However, unlike the film, his character spoke additional words and the scene was altered from the film. Instead of ordering Han Solo to freeze, Dyer informed the Rebel group as a whole to freeze and surrender by raising their hands in the air.

Actor Barrie Holland, who portrayed Lieutenant Renz in the film, recalled that shooting the scene that featured the characters Dyer and Renz was difficult due to Director Richard Marquand having conflicting views with his assistant director and first cameraman. Shooting the scene took "several beats" in order to get it right and Holland believed that a stunt man played Dyer before finding out that Ben Burtt portrayed the character.

Appearances

 * Return of the Jedi radio dramatization
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 2: The Emperor Commands
 * Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 3: Mission to Endor