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| Art by Marrieta Ivanova. |
The man who was, 'is', and always will be the ultimate physical personification of Darth Vader - Dave Prowse, MBE - sadly passed away yesterday, but he'll be forever icon remembered and beloved for the work he did from 1977 - 1983, not just inside the Star Wars universe, unforgettably playing the ultimate screen baddie, but outside of it too- for his decades enjoying meeting and signing saga autographs for the fans who loved his work via worldwide conventions, and also for the many worthy charitable causes he keenly supported around it.
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| The classic autograph card importantly reminding viewers of the Star Wars saga who was portraying the ultimate screen villain. |
Equally, let's not forget Prowse's other important legacies beyond playing the Dark Lord of the Sith. Thanks to his talents as a British champion in the field of body building/weight training and sporting fitness, Prowse helped turn the once puny young newcomer Christopher Reeve into the Man of Steel icon he'd become throughout the seventies and eighties; he was a hugely beneficial influence to UK road safety in his numerous TV and school visit appearances as the Green Cross Code Man, became other memorable 'monsters' in the likes of Doctor Who, Space:1999, and several classic Hammer Horror films. Plus numerous TV guest roles in now classic series like The Saint and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. as well as a memorable early seventies film appearance in a disturbing sequence of Stanley Kubrick's controversial A Clockwork Orange, that soon led to Prowse being recommended to rising star director George Lucas for some strange sci-fi film being made at Elstree Studios then called The Star Wars.
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| With the rest of The Empire Strikes Back cast (sans Anthony Daniels) at a London press call- May 1980. |
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| Father and son reunited! Prowse and Mark Hamill have fun at the UK Star Wars Celebration in London during Summer 2007. |
Beyond Vader, I personally felt that Prowse's best acting work had to be the BBC 1981 drama series The Rose Medallion, a quirky little affair where he played the simple-minded but kindly loyal cousin to an intrepid and avaricious antiques dealer detective of sorts, played by Donald Sumpter, now known for his work on Game of Thrones. If Rose ever gets a replay one day, it's worth a watch, showing viewers how seriously Prowse wanted to be taken as an actor during his eighties prime.
RIP, Dave, and May the Force Truly Be With You...
http://www.darthvader-starwars.com/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-55117704
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