By: Derek Davis
A big man was brought low on November 28th because of the slashing blow of Covid-19 in this dark year of 2020. David Charles Prowse is a name few may know, but the villain he brought to life on the silver screen is one we are all familiar with; the infamous Darth Vader, of the Star Wars canon. Standing at 6’6, Dave Prowse was used to towering over his co-stars, donning the glimmering obsidian armor of the dark lord. In 1977 he stood over all those that might compete with mere height; he had the force, however dark it may be, to do just that.
We all are, or should be, quite familiar with his character’s reawakening as the father of Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back, as well as his character’s struggle with his role in that empire, but how much do we really know about the man behind the iconic black mask?
This powerful man was a British National Bodybuilding Champion in the 1960s. He played a British Superhero, the Green Cross Code Man, in the early ’70s, and that many of his 60’s and 70’s roles were non-speaking roles due to his massive frame. His portrayal of Frank Alexander’s bodyguard, Julian, in Kubrick’s classic dystopian Clockwork Orange brought him to the attention of George Lucas, who had a vision of an Empire led by this mammoth dark figure. This “dark” image would be that of David Prowse. Although he spoke all the lines in the original filming of “A New Hope,” Lucas would decide he needed a “darker” voice and chose James Earl Jones to be the “voice” of Darth Vader. We know it was Mr. Prowse’s strong slashing of the saber that brought the image of Obi-Wan low in that first/fourth episode, as well as his strong hand that reached out as Luke fell down the shaft in The Empire Strikes Back. We also know that the same Geoge Lucas would try to cut him off from the Star Wars legacy because of personal disagreements.
Lucas finally admitted Sunday that, “David was up for anything and contributed to the success of what would become a memorable, tragic figure. May he rest in peace.” We also know his agent, Thomas Bowington declared that “though famous for playing many monsters – for myself, and all who knew Dave and worked with him, he was a hero in our lives.” Mark Hamill, his son in the iconic films, said on Twitter that “He was a kind man & much more than Darth Vader.” Carl Weathers, The Mandalorian actor that plays Greef Karga proclaimed that his “stature contributed so much to Darth Vader’s legend.”
Ultimately, those that worked closely with him, or were inspired by him, strongly expressed that David Prowse was, and will always be, a legend.
Although it has not been officially announced, according to his daughter, his death was Covid-19 related. This brave man battled severe arthritis, prostate cancer, and dementia. This tragic villain was a bodybuilder, actor, father, and hero along with being one of the most important figures of the late 70s and 80s. Only one man could have ruled the galaxy alongside The Emperor, and that man was David Charles Prowse. He brought a character to life that has been forever immortalized by some of the greatest cinema in history.
The team at Comicbookchuck.com wish his family and the Star Wars family well and as his agent says, “May the force be with him, always!”
A final eulogy was posted by Lucasfilm on Instagram that David Prowse would always be remembered as “the commanding presence and imposing physical performance of Darth Vader.” So we remember the man who was the embodiment, if not the voice, of the memorable Darth Vader that created the archetype of the villain/hero to set the example of all those to come. We remember the rebel General Rieeken’s words, “A death mark’s not an easy thing to live with.”
We honor the man, David Prowse, who will always tower over all those who come after him in any genre. His “mask” reminds us of our own vulnerability in the days to come in 2021.
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