British actor Kenneth Colley, best known for portraying Admiral Piett in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, died on June 30 at his home in Ashford, Kent, England. He was 87 years old.
Colley’s agent Julian Owen confirmed the actor’s death in a statement, revealing that Colley had been admitted to the hospital after suffering a fall that injured his arm. While hospitalized, he contracted COVID-19, which developed into pneumonia and ultimately led to his death.
Owen stated that Colley “passed away peacefully with friends at his bedside” around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 30. The agent praised his client, describing him as one of the finest character actors with a career spanning six decades.
Colley first appeared in the “Star Wars” universe in 1980 in “The Empire Strikes Back,” where he played Admiral Piett, the commander of Darth Vader’s flagship Star Dreadnought Executor. His character served as first officer under Admiral Kendal Ozzel before assuming command of the ship after Ozzel’s death at Vader’s hands.
The actor reprised his role in 1983’s “Return of the Jedi,” though he initially was not expected to return for the sequel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Colley recalled receiving a call from his agent explaining that George Lucas decided to include the character in the next film due to significant fan mail about Admiral Piett.
Nearly three decades later, Colley returned to voice Admiral Piett in the 2012 animated television film “Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out.” His participation in the beloved franchise led to invitations to conventions and official fan events worldwide, where he remained one of the most beloved actors from the original trilogy.
Beyond “Star Wars,” Colley maintained an extensive career in film, television, and theater. He appeared in seven films directed by Ken Russell, including “The Music Lovers” (1971), “The Devils” (1971), and “Lisztomania” (1975), where he portrayed composer Frédéric Chopin. He also worked with Russell on “The Rainbow” (1989) and “Prisoner of Honor” (1991).
Colley enjoyed a fruitful association with Monty Python and its members, most notably playing Jesus in “Monty Python’s Life of Brian” (1979). He also worked with director Terry Gilliam in “Jabberwocky” (1977) and collaborated with Michael Palin and Terry Jones on a 1977 episode of the BBC’s “Ripping Yarns.”
His other notable roles included a Soviet colonel in Clint Eastwood’s “Firefox” (1982), Adolf Eichmann in the 1985 NBC telefilm “Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story,” and a Nazi in the 1988-89 ABC miniseries “War and Remembrance.” He also appeared as the pirate Ben Gunn in the 1986 Disney Channel miniseries “Return to Treasure Island.”
On British television, Colley appeared in episodes of long-running series including “Coronation Street,” “EastEnders,” “Misfits,” and “Peaky Blinders.” He also had roles in “The Avengers,” “Emergency-Ward 10,” and “The Sweeney” during the 1960s and 1970s.
Born in Manchester on December 7, 1937, Colley began his professional acting career in 1961. He performed for prestigious theater companies including London’s Old Vic, The Royal Court Theatre, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
According to Owen, Colley’s favorite role was playing Estragon in the London production of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” at the Cockpit Theatre in 2014. The agent noted that Colley enjoyed gardening, collecting art, and had a passion for fast cars.
Colley continued working until recently, with his final film role being in the 2024 movie “Dan Hawk Psychic Detective.” He also lent his voice to the 2023 short film “I Am Tree” and recorded narrations for Phenomenal Cat’s album “Pop Wasteland” in 2017.
The actor had overcome a stutter that disappeared whenever he performed on stage or in front of cameras. His career spanned more than 60 years, during which he portrayed characters ranging from Shakespeare’s Duke of Vienna in “Measure for Measure” for the BBC to various eccentric and villainous roles in Ken Russell films.
