‘Star Wars’ Actor Who Voiced Emperor Palpatine In ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Dies At 94

Hollywood has lost another star. Clive Revill, the New Zealand-born actor who initially voiced Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, has passed away at the age of 94. Revill’s career lasted over six decades, making him a legendary actor in the entertainment industry.

His daughter, Kate Revill, confirmed that he died on March 11 at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, California, following a battle with dementia. Revill’s contributions to the industry were vast, with over 200 screen appearances between 1955 and 2016, in addition to a notable Broadway career.

Clive Revill’s career

Clive Revill’s career began in theater, where he performed in seven Broadway productions between 1952 and 1981. His performances in Irma La Douce (1961) and Oliver! (1963) earned him Tony Award nominations and increased his fame. He made his debut in the 1955 television movie Strike and went on to appear in several other television movies.

Clive Revill gained widespread recognition for his brief yet memorable contribution to the Star Wars franchise. Referring to the series, Revill noted that it was one of the most brilliant ideas a person could ever conceive, and he had fun delivering his lines to fans of the series at Star Wars conventions over the years. In The Empire Strikes Back (1980), he provided the original voice of Emperor Palpatine, a role later recast with Ian McDiarmid for Return of the Jedi (1983). In a 2017 interview, Revill recalled how his connection with director Irvin Kershner led to the opportunity and how he recorded his lines in Los Angeles.

Beyond ‘Star Wars’

While Star Wars was one of Clive Revill’s most notable movies, his career was marked by other prominent roles. He received a Golden Globe nomination in 1973 for his performance in Avanti!, though the award ultimately went to Joel Grey for Cabaret.

In addition, he voiced Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: The Animated Series (1992) and contributed to projects such as The Transformers: The Movie (1986), The Diary of Anne Frank (1980), and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). His final onscreen appearance was in The Queen of Spain (2016), starring Penélope Cruz. He is survived by his granddaughter, Kayla.