David Prowse
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David Prowse, MBE (born July 1, 1935) is an English body-builder, weightlifter and actor, most widely known for his role as the physical form of Darth Vader. At his peak, he stood 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) tall and weighed 265lb (120kg) but has lost two inches due to his age and now he is at 6 ft 5 in (196 cm). Prowse is a native of Bristol, where he attended Bristol Grammar School.
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[edit] Darth Vader
Arguably, Prowse is most famous for playing the physical form of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. Although he spoke the dialogue during the production of the films, James Earl Jones overdubbed the character's voice in post-production, a fact which Prowse bears some resentment for towards Star Wars creator George Lucas, since he was never told that his voice was not going to be used. However, Lucas claims he wanted a 'deeper voice' (Lucas has stated that Darth Vader had to have a deep, reverberating voice) that Prowse could not provide and never intended to use Prowse's voice. In the 2004 documentary, Empire of Dreams, actress Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia Organa in the original trilogy films, quipped that they nicknamed Prowse "Darth Farmer" because of his un-intimidating West Country accent. And in the fencing scenes, Prowse's fencing coach Bob Anderson (who also taught the fencers in The Princess Bride) took his place as a stunt double.
To Prowse, the most annoying incident came during the filming of The Empire Strikes Back. The major plot twist in Empire is the revelation of who Luke Skywalker's father is. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Skywalker is told by Obi-Wan Kenobi that his father was betrayed and murdered by a young pupil named Darth Vader. However, in Empire, Vader himself reveals that he is actually Skywalker's father. According to Empire director Irvin Kershner, the shooting script had a false page with Vader's dialogue implicating Kenobi as the murderer of Luke's father, but at the time, only he and producer Gary Kurtz were privy to the knowledge that Darth Vader and Luke's father were the same person. Moments before the scene was filmed, Mark Hamill, the actor playing Luke, was taken aside privately and told the truth by Kershner, who encouraged him to ignore the dialogue Prowse was speaking and "use your own rhythm compared to what he's doing." In later years, Prowse claimed he would sometimes deliver joke versions of his lines in Empire and Return of the Jedi.
Prowse lobbied to be included in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, reprising his role as the fully-armored Darth Vader, but his requests fell on deaf ears. Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin Skywalker in Episode III as well as its predecessor, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, says he begged Lucas to have the costume designers build a suit that would fit him despite the fact that he is full five inches shorter than Prowse.
Prowse continues to associate himself with his role in the Star Wars films and is involved in the convention circuit. Despite this, he has not been included in recent reunions of the original cast, such as those for the Empire of Dreams documentary and the 2005 Vanity Fair cover.
Recently he played a small cameo role in Star Wars fanfilms Order of the Sith: Vengeance and its sequel Downfall - Order of the Sith - alongside Jeremy Bulloch and Michael Sheard. These fanfilms were made in England in support of Save the Children.
[edit] Other roles
Within the United Kingdom, Prowse is also well-known as the Green Cross Code Man, as a result of his association with the Green Cross Code road safety campaign for children which ran between 1971 and 1990 and for which he received the MBE in 2000.The video of the Green Cross Code can be found here.
He had a role as F. Alexander's bodyguard Julian in the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange, and as a circus strongman in 1972's Vampire Circus. He played the Minotaur in the 1972 Doctor Who serial The Time Monster, and had a small role as Hotblack Desiato's bodyguard in the 1981 BBC TV adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He also appeared in the first series of The Tomorrow People on LWT and as a bodyguard in 'Callan'.
Prowse played Frankenstein's monster thrice. First he appeared in Casino Royale. Then he appeared in The Horror of Frankenstein in a more or less recognizable form. In Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, he was heavily made up.
Prowse also made two uncredited appearances on The Benny Hill Show. On Hill's first show for Thames Television in 1969, he played a briefs-clad muscleman in the "Ye Olde Wishing Well" quickie, and in 1984 he showed off his muscles in a sketch set to the song "Stupid Cupid." The earlier routine was also featured in the 1974 movie The Best of Benny Hill, which did list him in the credits.
In June 2006, he played the role of a cannibal gardener in a new English independent film called Perfect Woman produced by Olympus Productions Limited. Its release is expected by the end of 2006[1].
[edit] Personal life
Prowse represented England in the weightlifting event at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia.
Prowse is married and has three children. He helped train Christopher Reeve for the role of Superman.[2] He also trained Cary Elwes for his role as Wesley in The Princess Bride. He is also a notable graduate of Bristol Grammar School. Prowse is now the official leader of the 501st Legion, a fan group dedicated to Star Wars costuming.
In 1999, thieves broke into Prowse's home and stole the lightsaber he used in the Star Wars trilogy and several of his other possessions [3].
He is a prominent supporter of Bristol Rugby club.
[edit] Health problems
Prowse has suffered from arthritis for much of his life. That has led to replacements of both hips and his ankle being fused, as well as several revisionary surgeries on his hip replacements [4]. Prowse's arthritic symptoms first appeared at age 13, but seemingly disappeared when he took up competitive weightlifting. However, they reappeared in 1990. [5]
In 2001, Prowse's left arm became paralyzed, followed by his right. He was diagnosed with septic arthritis caused by an infection he blames on an allergy to some of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs he was prescribed. It nearly killed him.
Today, Prowse works with various arthritis organizations in Britain and is vice-president of the Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied Association.
