Hollywood has lost another legend.
Clive Revill, the original voice of Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, has sadly passed away at the age of 94.
Revill’s daughter, Kate Revill, confirmed that he died on March 11 at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, following a long battle with dementia. His passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues alike.
A legacy in film and television
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1930, Clive Revill built an impressive career spanning over six decades. While many know him as the first voice behind Emperor Palpatine, his talents extended far beyond the Star Wars universe.
Revill’s film and TV credits include iconic roles in Transformers: The Movie (1986), Batman: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Twilight Zone, and Columbo. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe in 1973 for his performance in the comedy Avanti!, starring alongside Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills.
Inspired by legends
Revill’s journey into acting was nothing short of extraordinary.
In the early 1950s, he moved to London and crossed paths with acting greats Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh during their New Zealand tour. They saw his potential and encouraged him to study at the prestigious Old Vic Theatre School in England. That advice would set him on the path to an incredible career.
An actor who left his mark
Despite his vast filmography, many fans will always remember Revill for bringing the Emperor to life in The Empire Strikes Back.
”I got a call from the director, Irvin Kershner, who I’d worked with on A fine Madness. He needed a voice for the Emperor who would be only appearing as a holographic image. So I tried it several times and found it worked best with no emotion whatsoever,” Revill told The McDowell News i 2015.
Although his brief scene with Darth Vader in the original theatrical release lasted just over a minute, his voice was later replaced in the 2004 DVD edition by Ian McDiarmid, who portrayed the Emperor in Return of the Jedi and the prequel trilogy.
Despite this change, fans still eagerly lined up at sci-fi conventions to meet Clive Revill and his haunting performance in the original 1980 release remains a cherished piece of Star Wars history.
Fans and fellow actors have been sharing their memories of Revill online. Actor David Pressman took to social media, reminiscing about growing up next to Revill and calling him “a legend” who was always kind and full of great stories.
A lasting impact
Revill officially retired from acting after his final film role in The Queen of Spain (2016), where he starred alongside Penélope Cruz. His influence, however, will live on through the countless characters he brought to life over the years.
Rest in peace, Clive Revill. Your voice and legacy will never be forgotten.
