Kenny Baker, born on August 24, 1934 and died on August 13, 2016, was a British performer renowned for his role as the person inhabiting R2-D2 within the Star Wars film franchise. Beyond his work on Star Wars, Baker also collaborated with George Lucas, appearing without credit as a Nelwyn musician in the movie Willow, and as a member of the Goblin Corps in the film Labyrinth.
Among Baker's other film credits are The Elephant Man from 1980, Time Bandits released in 1981, and the 1986 Jim Henson production, Labyrinth. In the latter part of the 1990s, Baker embarked on a career in stand-up comedy. A talented harmonica player, Kenny considered his performance with the James Coutts Scottish Dance Band at Hugh McCaig's Silverstone Party in July 1997 to be his "finest musical experience."
Standing at 3 feet, 8 inches (112 cm), Kenny Baker was a performer in circuses and cabarets alongside entertainer Jack Purvis when George Lucas selected him to operate R2-D2 in Star Wars during 1977. Baker is seen in the initial six Star Wars films released in theaters, although archive footage was used extensively for R2-D2's part in Revenge of the Sith. In 1983's Return of the Jedi, Baker also portrayed Paploo, the Ewok who commandeered an Imperial speeder bike.
For Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, Baker received credit as "R2 Consultant." The character of R2-D2 in the film was portrayed by actor Jimmy Vee.
Baker was admitted to a hospital on April 9, 2008 due to an "unexplained illness," and he died on August 13, 2016, at the age of 81, just 11 days before he would have turned 82.
- Official website
- Kenny Baker on Wikipedia
- Kenny Baker at the Internet Movie Database
- Kenny Baker (R2-D2) by Dennis Pellegrom on Star Wars Interviews ( April , 2006 ) (content now obsolete; archived from the original on February 5, 2023)