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‘Star Wars’ Actor Dead at 66 — His Character Was Memorably Menaced by Darth Vader

Apr 17, 2013  •  Post A Comment

An actor known for his role in the 1977 feature that launched the “Star Wars” franchise — including one especially memorable scene — has died. Reuters reports that Richard LeParmentier, who played Admiral Motti in "Star Wars," died at 66.

For those readers who don’t remember Motti’s name in the film, he was the character whom Darth Vader almost choked to death for his "lack of faith."

LeParmentier acted in more than 50 films and TV shows but is best known for his role in "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," where Vader uses the force to choke him.

“LeParmentier also appeared in ‘Octopussy,’ ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit,’ and as a reporter in ‘Superman II,’ which starred British actress Sarah Douglas, his wife from 1981-1984, as the Kryptonian supervillain Ursa,” the report notes.

LeParmentier was born in Pittsburgh but moved in 1974 to England, where he worked in recent years as a screenwriter. He died while visiting relatives in Austin, Texas, and no cause was given for his death.

His family said in a statement: "Every time we find someone’s lack of faith disturbing, we’ll think of him. … He has gone to the Stars, and he will be missed.”

Here’s the "lack of faith" scene in “Star Wars”:

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