Someone from STAR WARS who was in one of the movies’ “most memorable” scenes has died at the age of 85.
Today, his agents said that Michael Culver, who played Captain Lorth Needa in the 1980 movie The Empire Strikes Back, had died after a long illness.
Darth Vader kills Culver by telekinetically strangling him to death as punishment for the Millennium Falcon getting away from him. This is one of the most famous scenes in the movie.
“We are very sad to confirm the death of our friend and client Michael Culver,” his agents said in a statement today.
With roles in Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India, Secret Army, and of course one of the most memorable death scenes in the Star Wars movies, this actor has had a career spanning more than 50 years.
Michael gave up acting for the most part in the early 2000s so he could focus on his political work.
“It’s been an honor to work with Michael for ten years and take him to some of the best Star Wars events in the UK and Europe.”
“Michael passed away today. He was 85 years old.” We’ll miss him.
Culver was best known for his work in Star Wars, but he also played Ernest Clifford in Breakaway and Major McBryde in A Passage to India.
He was also in the movies Armchair Thriller, Secret Army, and Sherlock Homes.
He quit acting in the early 2000s after more than 50 years of work. He was born in London.
Fans were quick to honor Culver online as well.
“We are sad to say that actor Michael Culver has died at the age of 85,” The Star Wars Underworld wrote on X, which used to be Twitter.
Fans of the Star Wars movies knew Culver best for his role as Captain Lorth Needa in “The Empire Strikes Back.”
“He also had a variety of roles across many stage, screen and radio productions.”
The Sherlock Holmes Podcast with Jeremy Brett also talked about Culver.
It said, “Michael had been sick for a while, but that didn’t stop this strong, moral man from continuing to live, work, and speak out for the causes he had fought so hard for all his life.”
“Michael was not just an extraordinary actor, but was an extraordinary man.”
It also said, “His light shines a little dimmer than it did, but it shall never go out because his work and legacy lives on in shows like the one we love, in the causes he fought so hard for, and in the lives he changed and made better.”
“We thank Michael for all that he has given us, and our thoughts are with his family and all that knew him at this time.”
