Paul Hecht, an actor of stage, screen, and television, was born in England on August 16, 1941, and is now a Canadian citizen.
Hecht, originally from London, UK, completed his studies at the National Theatre School of Canada in 1963. His first appearance on Broadway was in 1968 in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead; his performance garnered a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He also appeared on Broadway in productions such as 1776, The Rothschilds, The Great God Brown, Caesar and Cleopatra, Noises Off, and The Invention of Love. In 1989, he was awarded the Obie Award for his acting in the off-Broadway show Enrico IV.
For the NPR adaptations for radio of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, he played the part of Emperor Palpatine.