Jeremy Bulloch, Boba Fett actor in the original ‘Star Wars’ films, dies at 75
British actor Jeremy Bulloch, best known for originally playing Boba Fett’s character in the “Star Wars” films, died on Thursday after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease, his agents said.
The 75-year-old actor died at St George’s Hospital in London’s Tooting district.
“He died peacefully, in hospital, surrounded by his family,” agent Kelly Andrews said in a statement. “He had a long and happy career spanning more than 45 years. He was devoted to his wife, three sons, and ten grandchildren and they will miss him terribly.”
But he will be remembered across the galaxy for playing the feared bounty hunter Boba Fett in a series of “Star Wars” films.
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the “Star Wars” franchise, called Bullock an “He was a true English gentleman.”
A fine actor, delightful company & so kind to everyone lucky enough to meet or work with him,” Hamill wrote in a tweet Thursday. “I will deeply miss him & am so grateful to have known him.”
Although the character Boba Fett was first introduced in the 1978 “Star Wars” holiday special, Bulloch brought the intergalactic bounty hunter to the big screen in “The Empire Strikes Back” and again in “Return of the Jedi”.
Boba Fett was a relatively minor character in the film franchise, but the mystery surrounding the Mandalorian bounty hunter quickly made him a fan favorite. The fascination with Boba Fett was so enduring that Disney created a series inspired by him, “The Mandalorian”.