'Star Wars' actor passes away.

Actor Michael Pennington, star of the 'Star Wars' series and a Shakespearean legend, has passed away at the age of 82.

According to The Guardian , his representative Lesley Duff announced that actor Michael Pennington passed away in the early hours of May 7th at Denville Hall in England. His passing leaves a profound sense of loss among his colleagues and those who appreciate the traditional arts of theater.

For moviegoers worldwide, Michael Pennington is best remembered for his role as Commander Moff Jerjerrod in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) . He was the head of the Death Star project and had a memorable direct confrontation with the legendary villain Darth Vader.

Michael Pennington as the commander of the Death Station, Moff Jerjerrod, in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).

PHOTO: MAXIMUM FILM/ALAMY

The scene where Moff Jerjerrod trembles but still tries to maintain his composure when faced with the threat of the tyrant Darth Vader has become one of the classic moments, a testament to Pennington's masterful psychological acting. He once humorously shared that acting alongside legendary characters in massive costumes was a "surreal and stressful" experience unlike anything he had ever encountered on the theatrical stage.

In addition, he has appeared in over 70 film and television productions, most notably as Michael Foot in the Oscar-winning film The Iron Lady (2011) , starring alongside Meryl Streep. He also played Sherlock Holmes in the television series The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1987) and the television series The Wars of the Rose (1989), an adaptation of Shakespeare's historical plays.

Michael Pennington: A Shakespearean theatrical legend

Despite his prominence on the big screen, Michael Pennington's entire six-decade career belonged to the theater. He was honored as an associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company and was a co-founder of the English Shakespeare Company.

Throughout his career, he has embodied most of the classic characters of the great playwright William Shakespeare. According to The Telegraph , it was the play Macbeth that inspired him to pursue an acting career, foreshadowing a career largely based on the works of William Shakespeare.

Michael Pennington fondly recalled how Shakespeare's verses had a profound impact on him, like a "heavenly blow," from the age of 11 when he saw Macbeth at the Old Vic Theatre in England. "I didn't even fully understand the words then, but the tearing sounds and rhythm completely changed my life," he shared in a speech at the British Academy.

Actor Michael Pennington

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Veteran actress Dame Judi Dench – a close friend who often played Pennington's love interest on stage – reminisced: " Playing someone's wife or lover is much easier when you've known them for a long time. There was always a strange connection and understanding between us."

Colleague Miriam Margolyes emotionally paid tribute, saying, "Pennington was a talented, erudite, and clear-headed actor." She added, "I am deeply saddened" and "may your soul rest in peace, my dear old friend."

Beyond acting, he was also a talented director with production projects in England, the United States, and Romania, and the author of several insightful books on Shakespearean plays.

Michael Pennington was born in 1943 (Cambridge, England) and grew up in London. Pennington became a member of the National Youth Theatre and studied English at Trinity College. He began his acting career as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, alternating between plays on London stages and guest appearances in British television series from the late 1960s to the 1970s.

He was married to Katharine Barker from 1964 to 1967 and they had one son together. In his later years, Michael Pennington lived a private life but always followed the evolution of theatrical arts. His long-time wife, Prudence Skene, also passed away in April 2025, leaving a great void in the artist's life.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nam-dien-vien-star-wars-qua-doi-185260512161338098.htm