Clive Revill, the veteran stage and screen actor best known to Star Wars fans as the original voice of Emperor Palpatine, has died at the age of 94.
His daughter, Kate Revill, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that he passed away on March 11 following a battle with dementia.
Revill lent his voice to Emperor Palpatine in the original 1980 release of The Empire Strikes Back, before Ian McDiarmid later took over the role. In a memorable scene from the film, the emperor appears as a hologram to Darth Vader, ominously declaring, “There is a great disturbance in the Force.”
The emperor didn’t appear in the flesh until the sequel, 1983’s Return of the Jedi, where Ian McDiarmid officially took over the role. Ian McDiarmid went on to portray Emperor Palpatine for decades, reprising the role in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and again in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. In 2004, a special edition DVD release of The Empire Strikes Back replaced Clive Revill’s original scene with a newly filmed version featuring McDiarmid, aligning the character’s portrayal with the rest of the saga. This updated scene has remained in all subsequent releases, including the version currently streaming on Disney+, according to USA Today.
Clive Selsby Revill, born on April 18, 1930, in Wellington, New Zealand, was a distinguished actor renowned for his extensive work across stage, film, and television. Initially training as an accountant, Revill’s passion for performance led him to the stage, making his debut as Sebastian in Twelfth Night in 1950. This pivotal experience prompted his move to London, where he studied at the Old Vic Theatre School and became a member of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company, performing in acclaimed productions such as Hamlet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and The Merchant of Venice.
Revill’s Broadway debut came in 1952 with Mr. Pickwick, portraying Sam Weller. His dynamic stage presence earned him Tony Award nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Irma La Douce (1961) and Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Fagin in Oliver! (1963). His versatility shone through in various roles, including Jean-Paul Marat in Marat/Sade and Ko-Ko in The Mikado.
Transitioning seamlessly to film, Revill appeared in notable British productions during the 1960s and 1970s, such as Modesty Blaise (1966), The Assassination Bureau (1969), and The Legend of Hell House (1973). His collaboration with director Billy Wilder in Avanti! (1972) earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor per PEOPLE.
In the realm of television, Revill made numerous guest appearances on popular series including Columbo, Hart to Hart, Magnum, P.I., and Star Trek: The Next Generation. His distinctive voice led him to voice acting roles, most notably as the original voice of Emperor Palpatine in the 1980 release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Additionally, he voiced Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: The Animated Series and contributed to various animated series and video games, including The Transformers and Star Wars: X-Wing.
