Kenny Baker檢視原始碼討論檢視歷史
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Kenny Baker
Born: August 24, 1934, Birmingham, England
Died: August 13, 2016 (aged 81), Preston, Lancashire, England Occupation: Actor, Musician
Years Active: 1976–2015
Known For: Portraying R2-D2 in the Star Wars franchise
Early Life and Career
Kenny Baker was an English actor and musician, best known for his role as the astromech droid R2-D2. Born with dwarfism, he stood at 3 feet 8 inches (112 cm). Before his acting career, he was a talented musician and performer, forming a comedy musical duo called "The Mini Tones" with his cousin Jack Purvis. They performed in variety shows, circuses, and on television throughout the 1960s and 70s.[1]
Star Wars and R2-D2
Baker's life changed dramatically when he was cast by George Lucas to operate the droid R2-D2 in Star Wars (1977). The role required him to cram inside the 3-foot-7-inch (109 cm) droid suit, using a monitor inside the dome to navigate and levers to control R2's signature head movements and blinking lights. Despite the physical discomfort and limited visibility, Baker imbued the purely mechanical character with a surprising amount of personality, charm, and emotion.
He reprised the role in the subsequent films of the original and prequel trilogies:
The original trilogy: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983)
The prequel trilogy: The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Baker also made a cameo appearance in Return of the Jedi as Paploo, the Ewok who steals an Imperial speeder bike. He served as a consultant for the Star Wars sequel trilogy, beginning with The Force Awakens (2015), before officially retiring from the physically demanding role.
Other Work
Beyond Star Wars, Baker appeared in several other fantasy and sci-fi films, often through his association with director Jim Henson. His credits include:
The Elephant Man (1980) as a Circus Bystander
Time Bandits (1981) as Fidgit
Flash Gordon (1980) as a Dwarf
The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992) as a Guest
Amazing Stories (1985-1987) (TV Series) as various characters
Mona Lisa (1986) as a Worker
Legacy
Kenny Baker passed away in 2016 after a long illness. Alongside his colleagues like Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and David Prowse (Darth Vader), Baker was one of the integral physical performers who brought the original Star Wars universe to life. Though largely unseen on screen, his performance inside the R2-D2 unit was essential, providing the "heart and soul" of the brave and resourceful droid. His work helped create one of the most beloved and iconic characters in cinema history.
Reference
- ↑ Kenny BakerIMDb