He was 85 years old. He was an actor in STAR WARS who was in one of the movies’ “most memorable” scenes.
His agents said today that Michael Culver, who played Captain Lorth Needa in the 1980 movie The Empire Strikes Back, died after a long illness.
In one of the most famous scenes in the movie, Darth Vader punishes Culver for the Millennium Falcon getting away from him by telekinetically strangling him to death.
A statement from his agents today said, “We are very sad to confirm the death of our friend and client Michael Culver.”
For more than 50 years, he had a career that included memorable parts in Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India, Secret Army, and, of course, one of the most famous Star Wars death scenes.
Michael mostly stopped acting in the early 2000s so he could focus on his political work.
“Being Michael’s agent for ten years and taking him to some of the best Star Wars events in the UK and Europe has been an honor.”
It’s official: Michael passed away today. He was 85 years old. Our hearts hurt for him.
Before he became famous for his work in Star Wars, Culver had roles in A Passage to India as Major McBryde and Breakaway as Ernest Clifford.
He was in Armchair Thriller, Secret Army, and Sherlock Homes as well.
The London-born actor worked as an actor for more than 50 years before he quit in the early 2000s.
People who liked Culver were quick to honor him online as well.
The Star Wars Underworld wrote on X (which used to be Twitter), “We are sad to say that actor Michael Culver has died at the age of 85.”
“Star Wars fans knew Culver best for his role as Captain Lorth Needa in “The Empire Strikes Back.”
“He also had a variety of roles across many stage, screen and radio productions.”
A tribute to Culver was also given on the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast.
“Michael had been sick for a while, but that didn’t stop this strong, moral man from continuing to live, work, and speak out for the causes he had fought so hard for all his life,” it said.
“Michael was not just an extraordinary actor, but was an extraordinary man.”
His work and legacy lives on in shows like the one we love, in the causes he fought so hard for, and in the lives he changed and made better.
“We thank Michael for all that he has given us, and our thoughts are with his family and all that knew him at this time.”