Kipsang Rotich, a student from Kenya,[1] provided the voice of Nien Nunb in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, and Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. He also provided Nien's voice for the Rise of the Resistance ride at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
He voiced Nunb in the Kalenjin language, his native tongue, as well as in Kikuyu.[1]
When Rotich provided the voice for Nien Nunb in Return of the Jedi, he was a student on work experience that happened to be on set whilst the director of the film, Richard Marquand, was looking for someone to record lines for Nien Nunb.
Rotich reprised his role 30 years later in The Force Awakens, and then again in The Rise of Skywalker. He did not play Nien in the second installment of the sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi, as his character, Nien Nunb, does not have any lines of dialogue in that film. Later in 2019, he provided the voice for the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge ride, Rise of the Resistance.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Contribution(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi | Nien Nunb |
| 2015 | Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens | Nien Nunb |
| 2019 | Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker | Nien Nunb |
Sources
"Sound Advice" – Star Wars Insider 26- The Road to Rotich: Finding Nien Nunb, Part 1 on StarWars.com (backup link)
- The Road to Rotich: Finding Nien Nunb, Part 2 on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Much to Learn You Still Have: 7 Things You Might Not Know About Sullustans on StarWars.com (backup link)
- 5 Things We Learned About Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Galactic Nights on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga: The Official Collector's Edition
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 In Kenya, audiences roar at language in 'Jedi' film (1983-07-28). Christian Science Monitor (Compiled From Wire Service Dispatches With Analysis From Monitor Correspondents Around The World). Archived from the original on August 11, 2019.
