Article from the Guardian
While this is probably already known by most people here, actor Kenny Baker aka R2-D2 passed away earlier today at the age of 83 from a long illness.
Baker was the actor responsible for not only physically acting in the R2-D2 costume when necessary, but also instrumental in designing the personality and acting habits of many of the various droids throughout the entire original trilogy and prequels, especially the astromech droids. In Star Wars, he also got a few moments on screen as the Ewok Paploo. He also appeared in other films including Time Bandits, Flash Gordon, Labyrinth and the BBC broadcast version of Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
It's pretty hard to imagine the way the R2-D2, a seemingly featureless blob of metal incapable of speech, has played such a remarkable part in the way filmmakers since have brought artificial characters to life. Where Chewbacca and C-3PO were also strange creatures for a film in 1977 with limitations on their acting, R2-D2 was groundbreaking, being incapable of any form of direct communication or traditional pantomime acting. Instead, Kenny Baker worked with Lucas to create a combination of sound, lighting, and movement that conveyed attitude and emotion that still resonates with viewers today. His work was so influential that even as he battled sickness, Disney brought him back on board to give input for creating and directing the new droids in Episode 7 including BB-8.
Kenny Baker is the first major actor since Sir Alec Guinness to have died after appearing in all three original Star Wars films.
And he will be missed, dearly.
