Alan Harris (born May 28, 1938 in Enfield, Middlesex, London, England; died January 25, 2020) was a British actor who played several roles in the Star Wars movies. Starting out as a model, Harris moved onto stage productions, and later motion pictures. For Star Wars, Harris' work was mainly behind the scenes; however, he has occasionally stepped in as an actor, notably portraying Bossk in The Empire Strikes Back. Harris has the rare distinction of appearing as different characters in all three films of the original Star Wars trilogy (as well as as the first prequel, The Phantom Menace), as well as playing a Stormtrooper in all three films.
Biography[]
In the original Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Harris portrayed Leia's Rebel Escort,[2] as well as a Rebel mechanic in the war room in a separate scene. Harris also portrayed a Stormtrooper.
In The Empire Strikes Back, Harris filled in for Harrison Ford when it came to molding Han Solo's carbonite block. While Ford provided the mold for the character's face on the[3] so-called "Hansicle," as the item has since been dubbed in canon,[4] Harris provided the mold for the neck down.[3] Furthermore, Harris was cast as Merril and later Bossk. Harris also played a Rebel on Hoth who is told to "prepare for ground assault" by Carlist Rieekan as well as a Stormtrooper on Cloud City.
Harris' only onscreen appearance in Return of the Jedi was portraying a Stormtrooper again.
Harris doubled for Anthony Daniels inside the C-3PO costume from The Empire Strikes Back onto Return of the Jedi. The Boba Fett costume was made around him; various photos from the costume test exist. Harris later donned the Boba Fett costume while doubling for Jeremy Bulloch on the set for Return of the Jedi, leading to a mixup with fellow costumed actor Trevor Butterfield who was portraying Harris' former character Bossk.[5] Harris' body was molded for the carbonite block of Han Solo. Due to C-3PO and Bossk occupying the same scenes during Return of the Jedi, the role of Bossk was handed off to Trevor Butterfield while Harris stood in for Daniels' for lighting.
On short notice, Harris returned to the saga to double as Terence Stamp in The Phantom Menace due to Harris' resemblance to the actor.[6]
Following his death in 2020, the first issue of the comic book series Star Wars: Bounty Hunters was dedicated to him.[7]
Sources[]
"Who's the Bossk?!" — Star Wars Insider 49- "In Their Own Words: Making The Empire Strikes Back" — Star Wars Insider 119
- Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – The Official Collector's Edition
- "The Star Wars Archive" — Star Wars Insider 226
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Star Wars actor Alan Harris who portrayed Bossk in The Empire Strikes Back dies aged 81 on www.dailymail.co.uk (archived from the original on January 9, 2022)
- ↑ Aveleyman - Alan Harris on www.aveleyman.com (archived from the original on July 16, 2017)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
"The Star Wars Archive" — Star Wars Insider 226
- ↑ Star Wars (2020) 50
- ↑ Trevor Butterfield (Lt. Bound) by Dennis Pellegrom on Star Wars Interviews (October, 2012) (content now obsolete; archived from the original on February 5, 2023)
- ↑
BOSSK IS ALAN HARRIS — Interview on Blogspot (backup link)
- ↑ Bounty Hunters 1
External links[]
- BOSSK IS ALAN HARRIS on Blogspot
- Alan Harris (Bossk) by Dennis Pellegrom on Star Wars Interviews (May, 2101) (content now obsolete; archived from the original on February 5, 2023)