Michael Culver, Star Wars' Captain Needa, Dead At 85
Michael Culver, who played Captain Needa in Star Wars' "The Empire Strikes Back," has died at age 85. The cause of death has not been disclosed, but the actor had long dealt with poor health prior to his passing.
Culver's agent announced the sad news on March 13. "We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client, Michael Culver," they said in a statement (via the Mirror). "A career spanning over 50 years with notable roles in 'Sherlock Holmes,' 'A Passage to India,' 'Secret Army' and of course one of the most memorable death scenes in the 'Star Wars' franchise. Michael largely gave up acting in the early 2000s to concentrate his efforts in to his political activism."
Fans took to social media to pay tribute to the late "Star Wars" actor. "RIP Michael Culver (Capt. Needa in Empire Strikes Back). Only met him the once, but he was a lovely chap," one wrote. "His legacy will forever live in the stars," another commented.
From Star Wars actor to anti-war activist
"Star Wars" actor Michael Culver came from a theatrical background. The Guardian notes in their obituary that his father, Roland Culver, was a theater actor, and his mother, Daphne Rye, was an esteemed casting director. Culver attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and began his thespian journey by treading the boards with the Dundee Rep, starring in 35 plays within two years before moving to London's the Old Vic. In addition to theater and movie work, Culver acted in TV shows and was a regular on BBC radio.
After the "Star Wars" actor disappeared from Hollywood, he turned to political activism. He was an outspoken opponent of armed conflict. Culver's FreedomLite website includes scathing takedowns of global political events, specifically focusing on U.S. and U.K.-led warfare. "These genocidal jottings, mainly in the form of poems, are dedicated to the children of Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan and where ever else the U.S and U.K. have used depleted Uranium," it reads.
Culver made his feelings clear regarding the evils of military action in 2017's "Anti-War Artist" documentary. "If I did what the British government has done in Iraq, I would be had up for armed robbery, rape, torture, and murder," he charged. "But apparently, when the government does it in another country, to other citizens of other countries, this is perfectly acceptable." Culver is survived by his wife, Amanda Ward, sons Roderic and Justin, daughter Susan, and four grandchildren.