Star Wars

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Finding an actor from the initial Star Wars trilogy who didn’t become a franchise icon in their unique way is quite challenging. Kenneth Colley, who portrayed Admiral Piett, became instantly identifiable to millions of fans of George Lucas’ space saga. However, he also had a career beyond the franchise. Regrettably, it was announced today that this actor passed away peacefully at his home in Kent, U.K., on Monday at the age of 87 after contracting pneumonia following a Covid illness.

Colley portrayed Admiral Piett, an imperial officer serving under Darth Vader, in both “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” In 2012, nearly three decades after his final on-screen performance, he lent his voice to a version of his character for “Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out.” Additionally, he is known for portraying Jesus in “Monty Python’s The Life of Brian.

In a statement, Colley’s agent, Julian Owen, said:

Ken Colley was an exceptional character actor who graced our screens for a remarkable 60-year career. He seamlessly transitioned between stage, screen, and television, embodying a diverse range of characters. From portraying Jesus in Monty Python’s Life of Brian to playing sinister and quirky roles in Ken Russell films, and taking on the role of the Duke of Vienna in the BBC’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, his talent was truly versatile.

As per a BBC report, the actor initially went to the hospital due to a fall. During his stay for a wounded arm, he unknowingly caught Covid-19, which eventually developed into pneumonia.

From the 1970s onwards, Colley has been a frequent presence in U.K. television shows like “The Sweeney”, and collaborated with esteemed director Ken Russell on films such as “The Rainbow”, “The Devils”, and “Prisoner of Honor”. His film roles also encompassed “Jabberwocky” featuring his future Star Wars co-star David Prowse, “Brassed Off”, and Clint Eastwood’s “Firefox”. More recently, he has appeared on the hit series “Peaky Blinders” starring Cillian Murphy.

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

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2025-07-04 04:19