0
‘Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi’ Actor Dies at 82
May 10, 2026
Posted 2 hours ago by
Disney/LucasFilmMichael Pennington, the actor best known in the U.S. for playing Commander Moff Jerjerrod in Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, has died at the age of 82. While the British actor is known to American audiences mostly for his work in Star Wars, he was also an acclaimed Shakespearian thespian. He once turned down a leading role opposite Meryl Streep to play his dream role of tragic Dutch prince Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play of the same name.
Despite decades of acclaimed work in the theater in the United Kingdom, including roles opposite Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh, Pennington said he still received requests for autographs from Star Wars fans who were unaware his career had continued to flourish after the 1983 installment in George Lucas’s blockbuster franchise. “I’ve done 20 years of plays since, and people still write for autographs, saying, ‘If you ever do any more acting, please let us know,’” he said in 2003. Pennington’s death was announced in an obituary published by The Telegraph on Sunday, with no cause of death given. Read it at The TelegraphRead more at The Daily Beast.
The Daily Beast
Coverage and analysis from United States of America. All insights are generated by our AI narrative analysis engine.