Dmitrious Bistrevsky

Dmitrious Bistrevsky, an actor and circus performer with both Ukrainian and American heritage, played a Quarren Trawler in the very first episode, named "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian", of the Disney+ live-action television show The Mandalorian. Furthermore, he was one of three actors who embodied Darth Vader in the live-action series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Bistrevsky, credited as "Performance artist – Darth Vader," stood in for Hayden Christensen in full-body shots where Vader was wearing his helmet, while stunt performer Tom O'Connell handled the action sequences.

Biography

Darth Vader was played by stunt doubles Tom O'Connell (left) and Dmitrious Bistrevsky (right), and their movement coordinator was Olga Sokolova

Bistrevsky's height of 6'7" made him ideal for portraying Vader in full-body shots, as using a real actor provided a more convincing visual than relying on CGI. For this role, the actor dedicated five months to training, spending ten hours each day. His initial scene involved the street setting on Mapuzo, which he also cited as his favorite to film. Due to the requirements of certain scenes, the actors had to switch roles frequently. There was even a time when all three actors portraying Vader were present simultaneously.

Even though James Earl Jones provided the voice for the character, Bistrevsky committed to learning all of Vader's lines for the filming process. However, expressing anger through speech caused Vader's helmet to shake, so a voice actor named Dorian was brought in to perform the lines on set, allowing Bistrevsky to synchronize his movements accordingly. Simultaneously, a movement coach and consultant, Olga Sokolova, provided instructions through hand signals. Bistrevsky employed meditation techniques to maintain Vader's mindset while on set. In the actor's words, "Playing the character was a dark and heavy experience; it was emotionally draining."

Works

  • The Mandalorian (Quarren trawler) The Mandalorian — "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian"
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi (Darth Vader) Obi-Wan Kenobi — "Part III" Obi-Wan Kenobi — "Part IV" Obi-Wan Kenobi — "Part V" Obi-Wan Kenobi — "Part VI"

Notes and references

External links

  • Dmitrious Bistrevsky (@demeet2k) on Facebook (backup link (demeet2k) not verified!)
  • Dmitrious Bistrevsky (@demeet2k) on Instagram (backup link (demeet2k) not verified!)
  • Dmitrious Bistrevsky ( @demeet2k ) on Twitter (backup link (demeet2k) not verified!)
  • Dmitrious Bistrevsky at the Internet Movie Database

Appearances