DAVID PROWSE
Name: David Prowse
Born: 1 July 1935 Bristol, England
David "Dave" Prowse, MBE (born July 1, 1935 in Bristol) is an English
bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor, most widely known for his role as the
physical form of Darth Vader. His peak height was at 6 ft 6.5 in (199 cm) and he
weighed 265 lbs (120 kg). Prowse is a native of Bristol, where he attended
Bristol Grammar School.
Arguably, Prowse is best known for playing the physical form of Darth Vader in
the original Star Wars trilogy. Although he spoke the dialogue during the
production of the films, James Earl Jones overdubbed the character's voice in
post-production, something for which Prowse bears some resentment towards Star
Wars creator George Lucas, since he was never told that his voice was not going
to be used . However, Lucas claims he wanted a 'darker voice' (Lucas
has stated that Darth Vader had to have a deep, reverberating voice) that Prowse
could not provide and never intended to use Prowse's voice. In the 2004
documentary, Empire of Dreams, actress Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia
Organa in the original trilogy films, quipped that they nicknamed Prowse "Darth
Farmer" because of his un-intimidating West Country accent. In the lightsaber
battle scenes, Prowse's fencing coach Bob Anderson (who also taught the sword
fighters in The Princess Bride and Lord Of The Rings) took his place as a stunt
double.
To Prowse, the most annoying incident came during the filming of Star Wars
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the major plot twist of which is the
revelation of who Luke Skywalker's father is. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New
Hope, Skywalker is told by Obi-Wan Kenobi that his father was betrayed and
murdered by a young pupil named Darth Vader. However, in Episode V: The Empire
Strikes Back, Vader himself reveals that he is actually Skywalker's father.
According to director Irvin Kershner, the shooting script had a false page with
Vader's dialogue implicating Kenobi as the murderer of Luke's father, but at the
time, only he and producer Gary Kurtz were privy to the knowledge that Darth
Vader and Luke's father were the same person. Moments before the scene was
filmed, Mark Hamill, the actor playing Luke, was taken aside privately and told
the truth by Kershner, who encouraged him to ignore the dialogue Prowse was
speaking and "use your own rhythm compared to what he's doing." During filming,
Prowse performed the false lines while the real lines were later spoken by James
Earl Jones in post production - the majority of the cast, including Prowse, were
not aware of this plot twist until the first screening of the finished film. In
later years, Prowse claimed he would sometimes deliver joke versions of his
lines in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of
the Jedi.
Prowse lobbied to be included in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,
reprising his role as the fully-armored Darth Vader, but his requests fell on
deaf ears.
Prowse continues to associate himself with his role in the Star Wars films and
is involved in the convention circuit. Despite this, he has not been included in
recent reunions of the original cast, such as those for the Empire of Dreams
documentary and the 2005 Vanity Fair cover.
Recently he played a small cameo role in Star Wars fanfilms "Order of the Sith:
Vengeance" and its sequel "Downfall" - Order of the Sith - alongside Jeremy
Bulloch and Michael Sheard. These fanfilms were made in England in support of
Save the Children.
Within the United Kingdom, Prowse is also well-known as the Green Cross Code Man,
a superhero invented to promote a British road safety campaign for children in
1975. As a result of his association with the campaign which ran between 1971
and 1990 he received the MBE in 2000. The video of the Green Cross Code can be
found here.
David Prowse in an episode of the 1968 TV series The Champions
He had a role as F. Alexander's bodyguard Julian in the 1971 film A Clockwork
Orange, and as a circus strongman in 1972's Vampire Circus. He played the
Minotaur in the 1972 Doctor Who serial The Time Monster, and had a small role as
Hotblack Desiato's bodyguard in the 1981 BBC TV adaptation of The Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy. He also appeared in the first series of The Tomorrow People
on LWT and as a bodyguard in 'Callan'.
Prowse played Frankenstein's monster thrice. He first appeared in Casino Royale.
He then appeared in The Horror of Frankenstein in a more or less recognizable
form. In Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, he was heavily made up.
Prowse also made two uncredited appearances on The Benny Hill Show. On Hill's
first show for Thames Television in 1969, he played a briefs-clad muscleman in
the "Ye Olde Wishing Well" quickie, and in 1984 he showed off his muscles in a
sketch set to the song "Stupid Cupid." The earlier routine was also featured in
the 1974 movie The Best of Benny Hill, in which he was credited.
In June 2006, he played the role of a cannibal gardener in a new English
independent film called Perfect Woman produced by Olympus Productions Limited.
Name: David Prowse
Born: 1 July 1935 Bristol, England
David "Dave" Prowse, MBE (born July 1, 1935 in Bristol) is an English
bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor, most widely known for his role as the
physical form of Darth Vader. His peak height was at 6 ft 6.5 in (199 cm) and he
weighed 265 lbs (120 kg). Prowse is a native of Bristol, where he attended
Bristol Grammar School.
Arguably, Prowse is best known for playing the physical form of Darth Vader in
the original Star Wars trilogy. Although he spoke the dialogue during the
production of the films, James Earl Jones overdubbed the character's voice in
post-production, something for which Prowse bears some resentment towards Star
Wars creator George Lucas, since he was never told that his voice was not going
to be used . However, Lucas claims he wanted a 'darker voice' (Lucas
has stated that Darth Vader had to have a deep, reverberating voice) that Prowse
could not provide and never intended to use Prowse's voice. In the 2004
documentary, Empire of Dreams, actress Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia
Organa in the original trilogy films, quipped that they nicknamed Prowse "Darth
Farmer" because of his un-intimidating West Country accent. In the lightsaber
battle scenes, Prowse's fencing coach Bob Anderson (who also taught the sword
fighters in The Princess Bride and Lord Of The Rings) took his place as a stunt
double.
To Prowse, the most annoying incident came during the filming of Star Wars
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the major plot twist of which is the
revelation of who Luke Skywalker's father is. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New
Hope, Skywalker is told by Obi-Wan Kenobi that his father was betrayed and
murdered by a young pupil named Darth Vader. However, in Episode V: The Empire
Strikes Back, Vader himself reveals that he is actually Skywalker's father.
According to director Irvin Kershner, the shooting script had a false page with
Vader's dialogue implicating Kenobi as the murderer of Luke's father, but at the
time, only he and producer Gary Kurtz were privy to the knowledge that Darth
Vader and Luke's father were the same person. Moments before the scene was
filmed, Mark Hamill, the actor playing Luke, was taken aside privately and told
the truth by Kershner, who encouraged him to ignore the dialogue Prowse was
speaking and "use your own rhythm compared to what he's doing." During filming,
Prowse performed the false lines while the real lines were later spoken by James
Earl Jones in post production - the majority of the cast, including Prowse, were
not aware of this plot twist until the first screening of the finished film. In
later years, Prowse claimed he would sometimes deliver joke versions of his
lines in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of
the Jedi.
Prowse lobbied to be included in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,
reprising his role as the fully-armored Darth Vader, but his requests fell on
deaf ears.
Prowse continues to associate himself with his role in the Star Wars films and
is involved in the convention circuit. Despite this, he has not been included in
recent reunions of the original cast, such as those for the Empire of Dreams
documentary and the 2005 Vanity Fair cover.
Recently he played a small cameo role in Star Wars fanfilms "Order of the Sith:
Vengeance" and its sequel "Downfall" - Order of the Sith - alongside Jeremy
Bulloch and Michael Sheard. These fanfilms were made in England in support of
Save the Children.
Within the United Kingdom, Prowse is also well-known as the Green Cross Code Man,
a superhero invented to promote a British road safety campaign for children in
1975. As a result of his association with the campaign which ran between 1971
and 1990 he received the MBE in 2000. The video of the Green Cross Code can be
found here.
David Prowse in an episode of the 1968 TV series The Champions
He had a role as F. Alexander's bodyguard Julian in the 1971 film A Clockwork
Orange, and as a circus strongman in 1972's Vampire Circus. He played the
Minotaur in the 1972 Doctor Who serial The Time Monster, and had a small role as
Hotblack Desiato's bodyguard in the 1981 BBC TV adaptation of The Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy. He also appeared in the first series of The Tomorrow People
on LWT and as a bodyguard in 'Callan'.
Prowse played Frankenstein's monster thrice. He first appeared in Casino Royale.
He then appeared in The Horror of Frankenstein in a more or less recognizable
form. In Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, he was heavily made up.
Prowse also made two uncredited appearances on The Benny Hill Show. On Hill's
first show for Thames Television in 1969, he played a briefs-clad muscleman in
the "Ye Olde Wishing Well" quickie, and in 1984 he showed off his muscles in a
sketch set to the song "Stupid Cupid." The earlier routine was also featured in
the 1974 movie The Best of Benny Hill, in which he was credited.
In June 2006, he played the role of a cannibal gardener in a new English
independent film called Perfect Woman produced by Olympus Productions Limited.