Despite the careers that many Star Wars alums have had — you’ve seen Harrison Ford, you’ve seen Mark Hamill, you’ve even seen Carrie Fischer — it looks like one major actor’s relationship with George Lucas and Company has turned to the Dark Side.
David Prowse, who played Darth Vader, has apparently “not been invited” to the Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando. The actor posted this on his web site:
“It is with regret that I have been informed by my friends at C2 Ventures, Ben and Phillip, that I am not to be invited to C5 this year or any other Lucas Film associated events. After enquiring, the only thing I have been told is that I have ‘burnt too many bridges between Lucas Film and myself’ – no other reason given…I have also been advised by the promoter of Paris Manga in September that LFL (Lucas Film Limited) have requested no photo opportunities with the 501 Squadron, even though I am commander in chief of the 501″
Now, look. I’m not privy to the inner workings of LucasFilm or its subsidiaries. Maybe David Prowse did something horrible, like leaving a dead animal on Lucas’s desk or something. (Is complaining about your voice not getting into the final cut really an offense that’s worth getting cut out of the gold mine?) Otherwise, like the fine folks at GeekTwins say, this is pretty much criminal — especially since the actor told /Film he hasn’t seen a single residual check for his work. His work that contributed to a multi-billion dollar franchise. If that’s accurate, can somebody Force Choke a little bit of cash out for this guy? And barring that, at least a little bit of respect?
[Hat-tip to the newly-renamed Blastr]
July 14th, 2010 at 9:45 am
My guess is that it’s that he made public the fact he hasn’t received residuals that counts as “burning his bridges.”
July 14th, 2010 at 10:21 am
It truly is a shame. David Prowse has been behind the scenes at many a classic Sci/Fi films startup. He helped get Christopher Reeve into shape for the Superman films. In addition, his muscles were always part of many creature and characters – He appeared on Space 1999 in several episodes as the “monster of the week”.
July 14th, 2010 at 11:58 am
My guess is its because he is a total dick to the people who are there to meet him. Check the message boards you’ll see the same story over and over. My nephews (age 6 and 9) were so excited to meet him and he was nothing but rude to them and everyone else we saw him interact with at that particular con.
Ordinarily I’d chalk it up to a bad day, but this dude seems to have a bad day at EVERY convention.
July 14th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
archeon, you are correct, he is a total dick and I can see that being the reason why he wasn’t invited
July 14th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Yeah, I met Prowse at a signing at a comic book store and he acted like he’d rather be having a root canal than be there. Plus, he famously leaked plot points when the original trilogy was being filmed so I don’t doubt Lucas has little patience for him.
July 15th, 2010 at 7:24 am
I also met David Prowse back in early 90s at a Starlog store. He was very rude and disrespectful. He openly resented his association with Star Wars. While I had never heard others have this experience, I am not surprised.
August 1st, 2010 at 9:45 am
I’m from Brunei and a big fan of Star Wars and I have never met David Prowse or Gearge Lucas or any of the Stars Wars stars. I’m sure though that millions around the world would agree with me that David Prowse is a great figure, a great hero to many of his fans. And fine, we all know the story that his real voice wasnt used…Chewbacca is also a mysterious character I grew up with and didnt know who was underneath the eloborate costume. Maybe the both sides should loosen up and think about the fans. Give David Prowse a break. If David Prowse was to come to my country, I’d tell everyone to give him a King’s Welcome.
December 11th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Maybe he was rude and bitter because he wasn’t getting paid….
January 16th, 2011 at 7:52 am
Well, during the scenes when they were filming, David Prowse was used for Darth Vader’s voice, and I can name several things, all in which David Prowse was not told about, he found out himself by going the cinema.
1.) David Prowse didn’t know that James Earl Jones tuck over for Vader’s Voice
2.) George Lucas told Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and a few other people that Vader was Luke’s father, and David Prowse wasn’t told about this.
So what I think is that if anyone has burned down bridges it is George Lucas’s fault not David Prowse, if David Prowse reads this I little message for you “you didn’t do anything wrong, secrets where kept behind your back, you should be allowed to go to the Star Wars convention”.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
SNUBBING ICONS CAN CERTAINLY LEAVE A SCAR…ALTHOUGH I WAS NEVER PROWSED, I WAS NIMOYED AT 17 IN DOWNSTATE ILLINOIS WHERE HE WAS PLAYING (WHAT ELSE?) THE ALIEN IN VISIT TO A SMALL PLANET AT THE PHAESANT RUN THEATER…MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP AFTER THE SHOW FOR AUTOGRAPHS, AT WHICH POINT THE NIM STRODE OUT IN A BATHROBE, STOOD UP ON A FOLDING CHAIR BEHIND A TABLE PLACED THERE FOR THE PURPOSE, AND ASKED “WHAT DO ALL YOU PEOPLE WANT WITH ME?”…RIGHT, TAKE A GUESSS, LEONARD…WHEN I TENDERED MY PROGRAM HE CLAWED IT TO HIM, SCRIBBLED ON IT WITH A SCOWL, AND THEN SHOVED IT BACK AS IF IT WERE CONTAMINATED, REVEALING HIMSELF TO BE THE VERY RICH IN LUCK AND LOW IN TALENT NEW YORK TAXI DRIVER HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT HEART…THE REASON SPOCK FIT HIM AS PERFECTLY AS HE DID WAS BECAUSE LENNIE REALLY IS AS ALOOF, CONCEITED, AND DISMISSVE AS THE TIBERIAN TREK CHARACTER HE WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY TO THE END OF HIS LIFE…I HAVE SEEN HIM IN OTHER LIVE THEATER, AND BELIEVE ME, IF HE ISN’T SPOCK THEN HE IS NOBODY WORTH REMEMBERING…”I AM NOT SPOCK!” (?)…THINK AGAIN, LEONARD…APART FROM SPOCK, I SAY AGAIN, THERE IS NO ONE LEFT OVER OF THE LEAST INTEREST, MEANING YOU.
June 23rd, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Drop it guys I met him today and he was polite and willing to sign multiple things, he let me get several photos and if you do not believe me here is the video. I was also arrested by s Stormtrooper and a Scoutrooper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnjxzBVbnoA&feature=plcp