Clive Revill, the actor who first gave voice to one of Star Wars' most infamous villains, Emperor Palpatine, has died at the age of 94.
His daughter, Kate Revill, confirmed that he passed away on March 11 at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, following a long battle with dementia.
Though his chilling portrayal in The Empire Strikes Back was brief, Revill's impact on the Star Wars legacy and his broader contributions to film, television, and theater spanned more than 60 years and left a lasting impression on generations of fans.
This was reported by Newsner.
A Voice That Echoed Across the Galaxy
Revill lent his voice to the Emperor in the original 1980 release of The Empire Strikes Back, voicing the shadowy hologram that communicates with Darth Vader. Though his scene lasted just over a minute, it introduced audiences to one of the saga’s most fearsome antagonists.
In a 2015 interview with The McDowell News, Revill recalled how he was brought in for the role by director Irvin Kershner:
“I got a call from the director, Irvin Kershner, who I’d worked with on A Fine Madness. He needed a voice for the Emperor who would be only appearing as a holographic image. So I tried it several times and found it worked best with no emotion whatsoever.”
His original portrayal was later replaced by Ian McDiarmid in the 2004 DVD re-release to maintain continuity with the later films. Still, Revill’s interpretation remains a haunting and memorable piece of Star Wars lore.
A Distinguished Career
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1930, Revill moved to London in the early 1950s and studied at the prestigious Old Vic Theatre School.
Encouraged by theater legends Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, whom he met during their tour of New Zealand, Revill went on to build a prolific career on stage and screen.
He appeared in dozens of television series and films, including Columbo, The Twilight Zone, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Batman: The Animated Series, and Transformers: The Movie (1986). His performance in Billy Wilder’s Avanti! earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 1973.
Revill’s final film role came in The Queen of Spain (2016), where he appeared alongside Penélope Cruz before retiring from acting.
Tributes from Fans and Colleagues
News of his passing has sparked tributes from across the entertainment world. Actor David Pressman, a longtime neighbor, remembered Revill as “a legend” who was always generous with his time and stories.
Though replaced in later versions of The Empire Strikes Back, Revill continued to be a fan favorite at sci-fi conventions, where he was celebrated for his original contribution to the Star Wars universe.
His family, fans, and colleagues mourn his passing but celebrate a career that reached from Shakespeare to galaxies far, far away.
