May The 4th Be With You! Since its very inception in 1977, it was clear that Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope would constitute a cinematic classic. Through over 40 years, the legendary franchise has continued to bring joy to legions of fans and completely reshaped moviegoing and pop culture. May 4th has become a special day for fans to celebrate their love for the franchise, given how similar the date sounds to the signature catchphrase “May the force be with you.” Unfortunately, some of the original actors have been lost to death along the way.

May The 4th is a great occasion to celebrate fandom for the iconic film franchise, and even some of the film’s stars have gotten in on the fun. Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, has made jokes about it on social media, including creating a full calendar in 2018 of “May The” dates for fans to follow along with, which he’s tweeted and posted on his Instagram. Besides looking back on the classic movies, it’s also a great opportunity to pay tribute to the stars who have been lost.

May The Fourth Be With [YOUR NAME HERE]

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) May 4, 2018

After the first installment, the franchise endured and then some, spawning two sequels Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) in the immediate aftermath. Years later, a prequel trilogy hit theaters with Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).

Fans were nowhere near done with the franchise, and it continued with the sequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: Episode IX (2019). Finally, the anthology includes Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). That’s not to mention its offshoots, including the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) and the popular Disney + series The Mandalorian, beginning in 2019.

The memory of the actors who lost their lives after filming this iconic series of movies continues to this day. Here is our definitive list of the most beloved actors from the Star Wars franchise who have gone on to new frontiers.

Paul Grant

Paul Grant was a beloved actor, appearing in a wide variety of movies throughout his career. In the Star Wars franchise, he played one of the most beloved characters, as an Ewok in the 1983 film Return of the Jedi. While the Ewoks are a smaller role than some of the main series, they’re still some of the most iconic characters in the film. Aside from his work in Star Wars, Paul also had roles in Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone (2001). He also appeared in Labyrinth (1986) and did stunts for Willow (1988) and Legend (1985), per IMDb. 

Paul collapsed outside King’s Cross station in London on March 20, 2023. He died shortly after, and no cause of death has been revealed, per The Guardian. He was 56. He is survived by his girlfriend Maria Dwyer as well as his son, two daughters, stepchildren, and grandkids.

Alex McCrindle

Alex McCrindle famously appeared in the 1977 Star Wars as General Jan Dodonna. The Scottish actor, born in 1911, appeared in other films and TV series, (including All Creatures Great & Small), but his career was largely defined by George Lucas‘ brilliant movie. According to his Wikipedia page, he had three daughters. He died at the age of 78 on April 28, 1990, in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

Harry Fielder

English actor Harry Fielder, born in 1940 in London, was a mainstay of British television and movies throughout the decades of 1960-1990. He played the smaller role of Corporal Grenwick in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. While he never played a major starring role, he worked continuously for years on end, appearing in major studio films including 101 Dalmatians and The Man Who Knew Too Little, among others. He died only a year and a half ago on February 6, 2021, at the age of 80.

Alec Guinness

English actor Alec Guiness became nothing less than a legend when he played Obi-Wan-Kenobi in the 1977 original Star Wars. The actor, 62 when he took on the role, was honored with an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role that year. It would prove to be the only Oscar acting nomination throughout the entire original trilogy. Alec was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February 2000 and tragically died months later on August 5, 2000. He was also diagnosed with liver cancer just days before his death at age 86.

Alec, a father of one son named Matthew Guiness, (also an actor), was buried in the UK.

Jack Purvis

British film actor Jack Purvis appeared in A New Hope as Chief Jawa and as Chief Ugnaught in The Empire Strikes Back . Jack had dwarfism, standing at just over 4 feet, 2 inches tall, and was cast in iconic movies including The Dark Crystal, Time Bandits, Willow, and Labyrinth.. He became a quadriplegic in 1990 after an auto repair accident tragically left his neck broken and he died on Nov 21, 1997, in England. He was just 60 years old.

Jason Wingreen

Born in 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, Jason played one of The Empire Strikes Back’s most indelible and memorable characters — without ever showing his face. He was the voice of bounty hunter Boba Fett , in the 1980 megahit. He was a prolific actor of stage, film and television known well for his role as Harry Snowden on 1970s sitcom All In The Family.

Jason died on Christmas day in 2015 at the age of 95 in the entertainment capital of the world — Los Angeles, California.

Peter Cushing

Peter Cushing, yet another British actor appeared in A New Hope in 1977 as Grand Moff Tarkin. He was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor but his career overall speaks for itself. It spanned across Hammer’s Frankenstein & Dracula , among many others; when he appeared on set for A New Hope , he was actually one of cast’s better known and more established actors. In 1982 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer; he pushed through and ultimately died on August 11th ,1994 ,in England at age81 .He had appeared over100 films.

Carrie Fisher

It’s likely thatCarrie Fisher </strongis amongthe StarWars franchise’s most beloved ,and most heavily mourned losses .The daughterof Hollywood legendsDebbie Reynolds andEddie Fisher made her definitive career move as Princess Leia inthe original StarWars trilogy ,and reprised her rolein2015 with StarWars :The Force Awakens and again posthumouslyin2017’sThe Last Jedi . Unreleased footageof heralso appearedinThe Riseof Skywalker in2019.

Carrie ’stragic deathcame unexpectedlyas shewason flightfromLondon toLAon December23 ,2016 ,andsufferedamedical emergency.CPRwasperformedand shewas transportedtoUCLARonaldReaganMedicalCenterinLAto beplacedonaventilator.She diedat age60onDecember27.CostarHarrison Ford who played Han Solo released astatementfollowing thesad news.“Carriewasone-of-a-kind…brilliant ,original.Funnyand emotionally fearless.She livedher life ,bravely,”hesaidatthetime ,per Billboard .“MythoughtsarewithherdaughterBillie ,hermotherDebbie ,herbrotherTodd ,andhermanyfriends.Wewillallmis sher.”
Carrie ’smotherDebbie ,heartbrokenbyherdaughter ’sdeath ,famouslydiedof astrokeonedaylateronDecember28.Carrie ’sdaughterBillie Lourd 30 hascontinuedthefamily legacy instarringrolesinScreamQueens andAmericanHorrorStory amongothers.Carrie ’scauseofdeathwasdeterminedtobecardiacarrest.

Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee as Count Dooku (Everett Collection)

BritishactorChristopher Lee is aniconmanytimesover.HeappearedastheHammerDracula ,asSarumaninTheLordOfTheRings trilogy,andofcourse ,asSithLordCountDookuin AttackOfTheClones , RevengeOfTheSith andTheCloneWars . Hisvoiceworkinanimatedprojectsandvideogameswasasrenownedashisphysicalpresence,andhisintimidatingstaturelentgravitas toroleslike thatofWillyWonka ’sstern dentistfatherin Charlie &TheChocolateFactory .
Christopherexperiencedheartfailureshortlyafterhis93rdbirthdayanddiedatChelseaandWestminsterHospitalonJune7 ,2015.

John Hollis
John Hollis (Everett Collection)

JohnHollisplayedLobotinTheEmpireStrikesBack buthe’splentyexperiencedinlegendaryfilmfranchises.Bornin1927inEngland ,healsoappearedintheoriginal Superman franchisewithChristopherReeve andintheJamesBondfranchise,circatheRogerMoore years.He diedatage77inEnglandonOctober18 ,2005.

Felix Silla
Strong >< Italian stuntmanandactorplayedHangGliderEwokin ReturnOfTheJedi . <HealsoplayedCousinIttonTheAdamsFamily <andappearedonBattlestarGalactica . <HediedofpancreaticcanceronApril16 ,2021,inLasVegas,NV.Hewas84yearsold.

Ed Asner
Strong >< hasplayednoshortageoficonicroles,includingsantaClausein Elf .   EdalsoprovidedthevoiceforJabbaTheHuttintheradioadaptionof ReturnoftheJedi . <Headditionallylendedhisvoice toaJedi mastercharacterintwoStarWarsgames.Hewas91whendiedathishomeinTarzana ,LosAngelesofnaturalcausesonAugust29 ,2021.

Gerald Home
Strong >< IrishactorplayedTessekinCaptainVerrackin ReturnoftheJedi ,thoughsadlybothrolesremainuncredited.Hewasalsoapuppeteeronthe1986cultclassic LittleShopOfHorrors . <GeralddiedoflivercanceronOctober6 ,2021.He wasonly70yearsold.

Peter Mayhew
Peter Mayhew(EverettCollection)

PeterMayhew Strong >< memorablyplayedoneofthefranchise’smostbelovedcharacters,WookieeChewbacca,intheoriginaltrilogy.Hewouldrepritzeiconicrole numerous times,includingin RevengeoftheSith <andTheForceAwakens (2015),whichwouldprovetobehisfinalfilmrole.He diedofaheartattackattheageof74onApril30 ,2019,inTexas.PerCBSNews,hisfamilymadeannouncement.“ThefamilyofPeterMayhew,deep loveandsadnessregrets to sharethenews thatPeterhaspassedaway,”theysaidinanofficialstatement.“HeleftustheeveningofApril30 ,2019withhisfamilybysideinhisNorthTexas home.”

Kenny Baker

KennethGeorgeBaker Strong >< wasanotherofdirectorGeorgeLucas’favoredBritishactors.BorninEnglandin1934withdwarfism,hierose theranksactingtobecomethefamedR2-D2intheoriginalandprequelstarwars trilogiesAtareported3feet8inchestallhemagnifiedtheroleandcatapulteditinto cinematic history.
< Kenny diedonAugust13 ,2016,inLancashireEnglandattheageof81.PerCNN,hisniece<strongAbigailShield<strong explainedatthetime thathewasonotexpectedto“livepast hist teenageyears becausehewasa‘littleperson,’soitisprettyamazinghelivedthislong.”
<h3Trisha Noble

< i star wars episode III revengeoftheSith,Australianbornactress< played<spanid=20_Trisha_Noble_Jopbal_Naberrie JopbalNaberriePadmeAmidalasmother.ShehadoriginallyappearedinthroleiniAttackoftheClonesbutitonlyshoweduponDVDreleaseafterbeingcutfromthefinalfilm.
< While shehadplentyofrolesinfilandtelevision,shewassowellknownforhersingingcareer—asateensensationinthe1960sshewasknownasPatsyAnnNoble.. Sh diedonJanuary23rd2021attheage76afteran18-monthbattlewithmesothelioma.
<h3Phil Eason

< wasaBritishpuppeteerwhocontrolledthecharacterYaddleinThePhantomMenace(1999).Per<bLooper,heal so workedonMuppetTreasureIsland,TheHitchhiker’sGuidetotheGalaxy,,andcult horror flickLittleshopofHorrors..Atthetimeofhisdeathin2021,h hadmostrecentlyworkedonNetflix’sTheDarkCrystal:AgeofResistance.. H diedonApril52021atage60.Hiscollaborator,strongDarrelWorbey,strongannouncedthesadnewsontwitter.“Saddenedtosharethetragicnewsthatourlong-termcollaboratorandfriendPhilipEasonpassedthisweekend,”hewrote“Philwasanamazingpuppeteeranddesigner—hisuntimelydeathleavesahugevoidinourindustry.Hisbodyofworkhoweverleaves aremarkablelegacy.”
<h3Shelagh Fraser

ShelaghFraser Strong >< memorablyplayedLukeSkywalker’sAuntBeruin<i star wars.Beyondthehistory-makingrole,shewasknownforTVseriesAFamilyAtWar,thoughshewasprolificas anactressinbothfilmandtelevision.ShelaghdiedinLondononAugust29th2000attheage79.