Michael Culver: Veteran actor and beloved Captain Needa of 'Star Wars' movie 'The Empire Strikes Back' dies at 85
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: British actor Michael Culver who was best known for his role in the 1980 'Star Wars' movie 'The Empire Strikes Back' passed away at the age of 85.
Culver's agency Alliance Agents announced that he died on February 27 in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday, March 12. No official cause of death has been revealed as of now.
"We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client Michael Culver," read the statement. "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."
Michael Culver gave up acting in the early 2000s for political causes
They added that Culver "largely gave up acting in the early 2000s to concentrate his efforts into his political activism."
"It's been an honor 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," the statement added.
"A real highlight was taking Michael to Celebration in Chicago in 2019. He was lost for words when he saw his queue line with nearly 200 people waiting to see him," further read the statement.
According to The Guardian, Culver was born in Hempstead in North London in 1938 to West End Stage actor Roland Culver and Daphne Rye, who worked as a casting director in a London-based theater.
Michael Culver attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Culver attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and began acting on the stage professionally in the late 1950s.
He made Broadway appearances in the Shakespeare plays 'King Henry V', 'Hamlet', and 'Twelfth Night', according to Playbill. He subsequently made his debut on the West End Stage in 1962, The Guardian reported.
According to his IMDB profile, the actor made his first onscreen appearances in 1961 with guest roles in the British television series 'You Can’t Win' and 'Probation Officer', as well as the television movie 'The Night of the Match'.
Among over 100 onscreen credits, Culver had to his name between the 1960s and his final appearance in 2016's 'Servants' Quarters', the actor is best known for playing Captain Needa in 'Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'.
His character is memorably killed by Darth Vader, played by James Earl Jones, using his Force powers during his brief appearance in the film.
Besides 'Star Wars', Culver also notably held a role in 1984's 'A Passage to India', which won Best Original Score and Best Actress (Peggy Ashcroft) among 11 total nominations at the Oscars in 1985.
Culver was married twice, first to actress Lucinda Curtis from 1962 to 1986, and to Amanda Ward, who survives him. He is also survived by sons Roderic and Justin, from his first marriage, a daughter from a different relationship, Susan, and four grandchildren, as per The Guardian.
