Kenneth Colley, the English actor best known for playing the icy and unflinching Admiral Piett in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, has died. He was 86.
Colley passed away on Monday after contracting COVID-19, which later developed into pneumonia, according to a statement from his longtime agent, Julian Owen. “He passed away peacefully with friends at his bedside,” the statement said.
Colley’s role as Admiral Piett earned him a special place in the Star Wars universe. As Darth Vader’s trusted commander, Piett became one of the most recognizable faces of the Empire. Not only was he one of the few officers to survive Vader’s wrath across two films, but he was also the first character in the original trilogy to see the Sith Lord without his iconic helmet.
When auditioning for The Empire Strikes Back, director Irvin Kershner reportedly told Colley he needed someone “that would frighten Adolf Hitler.” After the audition, Kershner simply told him, “Yes, I think you’re it.”
Beyond Star Wars, Colley’s career spanned decades in both film and theater. He starred in Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Clint Eastwood’s Firefox, and even lent his voice to Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out.