Star Wars' Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse dies aged 85

• British actor Dave Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, has died aged 85 following a short illness, his management has confirmed.
• Prowse originally recorded Darth Vader's voice but his rural English accent was deemed unsuitable and replaced by James Earl Jones.
• The 6ft 6in actor also represented England in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games in the 60s, according to The Telegraph.

Britsh actor and former weightlifter Dave Prowse, who played Darth Vader in Star Wars, has died aged 85 following a short illness.

His agent Thomas Bowington tweeted: "It's with great regret and heart-wrenching sadness for us and millions of fans around the world, to announce that our client Dave Prowse MBE has passed away at the age of 85."

Prowse auditioned for the first Star Wars after director George Lucas saw him play a bodyguard in A Clockwork Orange, The Telegraph reported.

He chose to audition for Darth Vader over Chewbacca "because you always remember the bad guys," he said in a BBC interview.

Prowse originally recorded Darth Vader's voice but his rural English accent was deemed unsuitable and replaced by James Earl Jones.

His co-star, the late Carrie Fisher who played Princess Leia said on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2016: "We called him Death Farmer."

He went on to feature in the original Star Wars trilogy. Prowse's face doesn't appear in any of the films either because as he was replaced for the unmasking scene, according to The Telegraph.

The 6ft 6in actor also represented England in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games in the 60s, The Telegraph added.

During this time, Prowse became friends with his competitors, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, the BBC reported.

He was also the personal trainer who helped the late Christoper Reeve prepare for his role as Superman, the BBC added.

Mark Hamill played Darth Vader's son Luke Skywalker in the films said on Twitter: "So sad to hear David Prowse has passed. He was a kind man & much more than Darth Vader.

"Actor-Husband-Father-Member of the Order of the British Empire-3 time British Weightlifting Champion & Safety Icon the Green Cross Code Man.

"He loved his fans as much as they loved him. #RIP"

Prowse's acting career spanned 50 years and included Doctor Who and famous Brtish comedy shows of the 1970s and 80s, The Two Ronnies and The Morecambe & Wise Show.

In 1963, the actor married Norma E. Scammell who remained his wife until his death and the couple had three children together.

Brought up in Bristol, Prowse spent his later years living in Croydon, south of London, as "a loving husband, father and grandfather," the BBC reported.