David Prowse: Darth Vader Actor and Green Cross Code Man Dies at 85

David Prowse was an English bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor, best known for playing Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. Born on July 1, 1935, in Bristol, England, he stood 6 feet 6 inches tall and won the British heavyweight weightlifting championship in 1962.

Prowse wore the Darth Vader costume in Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), while actor James Earl Jones provided the voice. He also played the Frankenstein monster in several Hammer films and appeared in A Clockwork Orange (1971). In Britain he was a national figure as the Green Cross Code Man, a road-safety superhero who taught children to cross the street safely.

Prowse represented England at the 1962 Commonwealth Games and in 1963 became the first man to lift the Dinnie Stones. He was made an MBE in 2000 for services to charity and road safety. He married Norma Scammell in 1963, and they had three children. He retired from public appearances in 2017 and died in a London hospital on November 28, 2020, at age 85.

Achievements: Played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, Green Cross Code Man, British heavyweight weightlifting champion (1962), MBE (2000).

Birth: July 1, 1935 - Bristol, England.

Profession: Bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor.

Interesting Facts: He could deadlift up to 785 pounds. He was banned from official Star Wars conventions in 2010 after a dispute.