Clive Revill, the actor from New Zealand known for originating the voice of Emperor Palpatine in “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back,” has died at 94. He passed away on March 11 at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, California, after a struggle with dementia, according to his daughter, Kate Revill.

Born on April 18, 1930, in Wellington, New Zealand, Revill initially worked as an accountant before shifting to acting in his early 30s. His acting career began in 1950 with a role in the stage production of “Twelfth Night,” which led him to London. There, he studied at the Old Vic Theatre and participated in multiple Shakespearean productions.

Revill’s Broadway debut occurred in 1952 with “Mr. Pickwick” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater (formerly known as the Plymouth Theater). His skills and range soon earned him recognition, leading to two Tony Award nominations in the 1960s. He was first nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Bob-Le-Hotu in “Irma La Douce,” and later for Best Actor for his portrayal of Fagin in “Oliver!”

As Revill gained acclaim on stage, he also expanded into screen roles. He featured in the 1957 television series “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and films such as “Kaleidoscope” and “Fathom” with Raquel Welch.

His film credits span a variety of genres, including “Otto Preminger’s Bunny Lake Is Missing” (1965), “Jack Smight’s Kaleidoscope” (1966), “The Legend of Hell House” (1973), “Zorro: The Gay Blade” (1981), “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993), and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” (1995). Revill received critical acclaim for his role in Billy Wilder’s “Avanti!” (1972), earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Revill’s most notable role occurred in 1980 when he voiced the Emperor in George Lucas’ “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.” As reported by the Dallas Observer, he recorded his famous line, “There is a great disturbance in the Force,” in only three takes. Although his voice was replaced by Ian McDiarmid’s for the 2004 DVD release (McDiarmid portrayed the Emperor in “Return of the Jedi” and the prequel trilogy), Revill’s contribution remains significant to the franchise.

Revill maintained his Star Wars connection by voicing several characters in video games, including Dodonna in “Star Wars: X-Wing,” an imperial officer in “Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter,” and roles in “Star Wars: The Old Republic.” His voice acting extended to other franchises, with parts in “The Hobbit” video game, as Alfred in 1992’s “Batman: The Animated Series,” and Galeo in “Snorks.”

Apart from his Star Wars legacy, Revill appeared in a variety of television series such as “Columbo,” “Hart to Hart,” “Dynasty,” “Remington Steele,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “Newhart,” “MacGyver,” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” His wide-ranging abilities led him to portray characters from diverse ethnicities and backgrounds.

Revill’s personal life included two divorces, and he had a daughter, Kate, with his second wife, film producer Suzi Schor-Revill. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Kayla.

His final screen appearance was in the 2016 film “The Queen of Spain,” featuring Penélope Cruz, Cary Elwes, and Mandy Patinkin, concluding a distinguished career spanning approximately seven decades and 200 screen roles.