Kenny Baker
Kenny Baker (August 24, 1934 – August 13, 2016[1]) was a British actor best known as the man inside of R2-D2 in the Star Wars film series. Baker had also worked with George Lucas outside of the Star Wars films, with an uncredited role as a Nelwyn band member in Willow, as well as a role as the Goblin Corps in Labyrinth.
Baker's other films include 1980's The Elephant Man, 1981's Time Bandits, and the 1986 Jim Henson film Labyrinth. In the late 1990s, Baker launched a stand-up comedy career. Kenny is a first-class mouth-organ player and rates his guest appearance with the James Coutts Scottish Dance Band at Hugh McCaig's Silverstone Party in July 1997 as probably his "finest musical experience."
Biography
Kenny Baker, at 3 feet, 8 inches (112 cm) tall, was a circus and cabaret performer with entertainer Jack Purvis when George Lucas hired him to be the man inside R2-D2 in Star Wars in 1977. Baker appears in the first six theatrical Star Wars films, although stock footage was used for much of R2-D2's role in Revenge of the Sith.[2] Baker played an additional role in 1983's Return of the Jedi as Paploo, the Ewok who stole an Imperial speeder bike. He was originally going to play Wicket W. Warrick, but he fell ill, and that role was handed over to eleven-year-old Warwick Davis.[source?]
In Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, Baker was credited as "R2 Consultant." R2-D2 in the movie was represented by actor Jimmy Vee.[3]
Baker was hospitalized on April 9, 2008 because of a "mystery illness,"[4] and on August 13, 2016, passed away at the age of 81, 11 days before his 82nd birthday.[1]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Contribution(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope | R2-D2 | |
| 1978 | Star Wars Immunization PSA | R2-D2 | A PSA highlighting children immunization |
| 1980 | Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back | R2-D2 | |
| 1983 | Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi | R2-D2, Paploo | |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace | R2-D2 | |
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones | R2-D2 | |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith | R2-D2 | Stock footage was used for most of this movie.[2] |
| 2015 | Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens | R2 Consultant |
Sources
- Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- The Star Wars Album
- The Jedi Master's Quizbook
"Warwick Davis: An Unlikely Hero, Part Two" – The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 5
"The Real R2-D2... Kenny Baker" – Star Wars Insider 23- "When Artoo Met Wicket" – Star Wars Insider 39
The Astromech's New Clothes on Hyperspace (content removed from StarWars.com; backup link)- Inside Artoo on Hyperspace (content removed from StarWars.com; backup link)
- Endor's Worst Drivers on Hyperspace (content removed from StarWars.com; backup link)
Star Wars: Episode VII Adds Academy Award Winner Lupita Nyong'o and Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie on StarWars.com (backup link not verified!)- "Launch Pad" – Star Wars Insider 150
- Star Wars in 100 Scenes
- Kenny Baker, the Actor Who Brought R2-D2 to Life, Passes Away on StarWars.com (backup link not verified!)
- Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga: The Official Collector's Edition
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kenny Baker, the R2-D2 Robot in 'Star Wars,' Dies at 81 (2016-08-13) on nytimes.com (archived from the original on August 28, 2017)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kenny Baker. Metro.co.uk (archived from the original on August 4, 2017)
- ↑ Ward, Jason: Little Actor Jimmy Vee Is Artoo-Detoo In Star Wars: Episode VIII? (2015-09-16) on makingstarwars.net published by Making Star Wars (archived from the original on August 6, 2020)
- ↑ WENN: R2-D2 Actor Struck Down With Mystery Illness (2008-04-10) on contactmusic.net (archived from the original on March 20, 2017)
External links
- Official site
Kenny Baker on Wikipedia
Kenny Baker at the Internet Movie Database
Baker Returns on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)