Michael Culver death: ‘Memorable’ Star Wars cast member dies, aged 85

Actor was centre of one of ‘Empire Strikes Back’s most famous death scenes

Star Wars actor Michael Culver has died, aged 85.

The actor was known for numerous theatre credits as well as his memorable role in 1980 sequel The Empire Strikes Back, and had been suffering with poor health in recent years. He died on 27 February.

Culver’s agent announced the news on Wednesday (13 March), stating: “We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client Michael Culver.

“A career spanning over 50 years with notable roles in Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India, Secret Army and, of course, one of the most memorable death scenes in the Star Wars franchise.”

The statement said that Culver “largely gave up acting in the early 2000s to concentrate his efforts into his political activism”, adding: “It’s been an honour to have represented Michael for the last decade and to have taken him to some of the best Star Wars events in the UK and Europe.

In The Empire Strikes Back, Culver played veteran fleet officer Captain Lorth Needa, who was the commander of one of Darth Vader’s Imperial Star Destroyers.

He is the character whom Darth Vader telekinetically strangles to death.

The actor’s agent said that Culver “was lost for words when he saw his queue line with nearly 200 people waiting to see him” at a Star Wars convention in Chicago, which took place in 2019.

Michael Culver in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (Lucasfilm)

Culver performed several productions with Dundee Repertory Theatre from 1959 to 1961, following which he appeared in seven Shakespeare productions at the Old Vic in London

Following uncredited roles in early James Bond films From Russia with Love (1963) and Thunderball (1965), Culver amassed numerous TV credits throughout the 1970s, appearing in The Adventures of Black Beauty , BBC drama Secret Army and a standalone episode of The Sweeney.

In the 1980s, he scored a minor role in The Empire Strikes Back and was one of the leads in David Lean's historical epic A Passage to India, which was nominated for 11 Oscars.

Culver also appeared in British shows Casualty, The Darling Buds of May, Emmerdale and, in 2003, New Tricks. His final screen appearance arrived in a 2008 episode of Wallander.

The actor married twice – once to actor Lucinda Curtis in 1962, and to sculptor Amanda Ward in 2004.