Actor Kenneth Colley, best known for playing Admiral Piett in multiple “Star Wars” films, has died from pneumonia at the age of 87.
Colley’s agent, Julian Owen, confirmed his death in a statement obtained by TODAY.com, revealing that the television, stage and film actor was recently admitted to the hospital after injuring his arm. While being hospitalized, he contracted COVID-19 and it progressed to pneumonia.
“It is with great sadness to report that my client Kenneth Colley passed away Monday 30th June at around 5:30pm in hospital in Ashford, Kent. He was 87,” Owen wrote. “He had been admitted after a fall with an injured arm, however he quickly contracted Covid which developed into Pneumonia.”
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that kills about 40,000 people a year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Owen added that Colley died “peacefully” with his friends by his side.
The agent went on to praise his client, calling him “one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years.” Owen also shared that Colley enjoyed gardening, collecting art and fast cars.
Colley appeared in the original “Star Wars” trilogy. His character, the commander of Darth Vader’s Executor spaceship, was first introduced in the 1980 film “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back.”
He then returned in 1983 for the conclusion to the trilogy, “Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi.”
Decades later, he reprised the role again to voice the character in the 2012 animated film “Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out.”
According to Owen, Colley’s appearance in the beloved franchise “led him to being invited to conventions and official fan events” across the world.
Aside from his work in the epic space opera, the actor landed roles in many television shows, movies and theater productions during his career. He booked his first part in 1961, according to IMDB. Colley went on to appear in episodes of long-running British soap opera “Coronation Street” and the 1978 television movie “Les Miserables” before his breakout role in “Star Wars.”
He then landed a part in the 1982 action thriller “Firefox” and the comedy series “Moving Story.” Colley had roles in “EastEnders,” “Misfits” and “Peaky Blinders,” as well. His final part was in the 2024 movie “Dan Hawk Psychic Detective,” according to IMDb.
Out of all the characters he played, Owen said Colley’s favorite was Estragon in the London production of the play “Waiting for Godot” in 2014.
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