Beloved Voice of Palpatine and Alfred, Clive Revill, Passes Away at 94

Regrettably, Star Wars enthusiasts received somber news today as the man behind the iconic voice of Emperor Palpatine from The Empire Strikes Back, has passed away at the age of 94. Famous for his numerous stage and screen appearances throughout a remarkable career, his death marks another star fading from a generation that brought forth cinematic pioneers of modern times. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Revill breathed his last on March 11 in a care facility in Sherman Oaks, after a lengthy struggle with dementia.

1929 saw the birth of Revill, who nurtured a passion for acting from an early age. His journey took him through numerous schools and colleges, eventually leading him to a professional career that kicked off in England. He graced several West End productions, establishing himself as a versatile performer, excelling in both contemporary and Shakespearean roles. His voice brought life to characters of diverse personalities, ranging from dramatic to comedic.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Revill shifted his focus from stage acting to taking on more television and film roles. He continued to incorporate elements of theater into these new roles, and in 1965, he appeared in “Bunny Lake Is Missing” alongside Laurence Olivier. In the following year, he acted in the Warren Beatty film “Kaleidoscope.” In the same year, Revill played two characters in “Modesty Blaise,” and in 1973, he starred with Roddy McDowall in the horror movie “The Legend of Hell House.

In his diverse list of achievements, he is most famously recognized for his part in the 1980’s sequel to Star Wars, titled The Empire Strikes Back. During production, director Irvin Kershner requested that he record a few lines for some crucial but minor scenes. His spine-chilling delivery contributed significantly to the ominous presence of the Emperor within the series. Nevertheless, it was Ian McDiarmid who ultimately provided the voice for Palpatine throughout the franchise, and now only McDiarmid’s renditions remain – unless you possess old VHS tapes of the movie.

Clive Revill’s Long Career

You might not immediately think of Clive Revill as a well-known actor from the past, yet there are likely many people who have encountered his work in some shape or form without recognizing it.

In addition to his roles, he has been featured in films such as “The Double Man” (1967), “The Assassination Bureau” (1969), “A Severed Head” (1970), “The Black Windmill” (1974), “Disney’s One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing” (1975), the comedies of Mel Brooks like “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993) and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” (1995), and more recently, “The Queen of Spain” (2016).

On television, similar to numerous others, he frequently made guest spots on numerous popular shows. These include a role in Peter Falk’s last episode of the original Columbo series, as well as Dynasty, Murder, She Wrote, Remington Steele, Magnum P.I., Babylon 5, The Fall Guy, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Additionally, he lent his voice to Star Wars video games and played Alfred in Batman: The Animated Series.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

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2025-03-27 16:02