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Clive Revill, Iconic Voice of Emperor Palpatine, Passes Away at 94

Clive Revill, the distinguished New Zealand actor famous for being the original voice of the notorious Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars franchise, has passed away at the age of 94.

Revill died on March 11 at a care facility located in Sherman Oaks, California, following a struggle with dementia, as confirmed by his daughter, Kate Revill, in an announcement to The Hollywood Reporter.

A versatile performer, Revill’s career spanned over six decades, during which he accumulated approximately 200 roles across film and television from 1955 to 2016. He was not only a television and film actor but also made significant contributions to the theater, having appeared on Broadway in seven different productions, starting in 1952 with Mr. Pickwick and culminating in a role in Lolita in 1981. His talents earned him Tony Award nominations in both 1961 and 1963 for his outstanding performances in Irma La Douce and Oliver!, respectively.

Revill’s foray into film began with the television movie Strike in 1955. He maintained a steady presence in the industry, and his role as Emperor Palpatine in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back remains one of his most notable credits. Although Palpatine’s screen time was limited in this sequel, the character’s influence grew significantly in the franchise, especially following the casting of Ian McDiarmid in future installments.

Interestingly, according to a 2017 interview with Dallas Observer, Revill’s involvement in The Empire Strikes Back was facilitated by his friendship with director Irvin Kershner. Revill recounted how Kershner gave him a brief overview of the Star Wars universe and the character of Palpatine before he recorded his lines in Los Angeles, contributing to a memorable scene where Palpatine communicates with Darth Vader via hologram.

Despite the brevity of his lines, Revill acknowledged the importance of his role in the Star Wars saga. He later expressed his admiration for the franchise, describing it as “one of the most extraordinary ideas” to emerge from creativity and relishing the opportunity to share those lines with fans during conventions.

In addition to his work on Star Wars, Revill garnered attention for his performance in the 1972 film Avanti!, earning him a Golden Globe nomination in 1973, although the award went to Joel Grey for his performance in Cabaret. He also lent his voice to Alfred in the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series. Over the years, he appeared in several memorable films and television programs, including The Transformers: The Movie in 1986, the television adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank in 1980, and the comedic film Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993. His last appearance onscreen was in 2016 in The Queen of Spain, which featured a star-studded cast including Penélope Cruz and Mandy Patinkin.

Survivors include Revill’s granddaughter, Kayla.

Source
people.com