He escaped Darth Vader's death hold, but on Tuesday Death Star commander Admiral Motti died at the age of 66.

Character actor Richard LeParmentier, who played the hapless Imperial officer, died unexpectedly on Tuesday morning in Austin, Texas while visiting his children.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

LeParmentier was born in Pittsburgh, but moved to Britain in 1974 and had been living in Bath, when he died.

As Admiral Motti in 1977's Star Wars, LeParmentier's character mocks Vader's "sad devotion to that ancient Jedi religion."

Vader responds with a demonstration, using the force to choke the young commander, but allowing him to live.

LeParmentier appeared frequently in British television roles throughout his career and was working as a screenwriter when he died.

He played a reporter in 1980's Superman II, which featured actress Sarah Dougless - the villainess Ursa - with whom he was married from 1981 until 1984.

But it was for his Star Wars role that LeParmentier may best be remembered as an actor.

"He absolutely loved traveling the world and meeting his friends and fellow Stars Wars fans, whose tributes have given us all the best lines in this message," LeParmentier's family said in a statement.

"He was no respecter of convention, except comic conventions," said Rhiannon, Stephanie and Tyrone LeParmentier.

"Every time we find someone's lack of faith disturbing, we'll think of him," they said.

Star Wars actor Mark Hamill. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It's not official yet but in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight he said:

""They're talking to us," he reveals. "George [Lucas] wanted to know whether we'd be interested.

"He did say that if we didn't want to do it, they wouldn't cast another actor in our parts - they would write us out. ... I can tell you right away that we haven't signed any contracts.

"We're in the stage where they want us to go in and meet with Michael Arndt, who is the writer, and Kathleen Kennedy, who is going to run Lucasfilm. Both have had meetings set that were postponed -- on their end, not mine. They're more busy than I am.

"I'd want to make sure of is are we going to have the whole gang back? Is Carrie and Harrison and Billy Dee and Tony Daniels, everybody that's around from the original [returning]? I want to make sure that everybody's on board here, rather than just one.

"I'm assuming, because I haven't talked to the writers, that these movies would be about our offspring -- like my character would be sort of in the Obi-Wan range [as] an influential character. "

Good, bad and downright ugly. I have posted many on here.

Sometimes though one comes along that is of real interest and for me this clip is that one.

Very raw filming copy from Return Of The Jedi. And anyone who knows their Jabba The Huts from their Wookies will know that the scene at 4.50 did make it in the movie.

When I think of my childhood I generally think of two things, football and Star Wars.

I was obsessed with both. So far none of my daughters have shown an interest in either.

That is until Lily my 5-year-old saw an advert on the television for the 3D release of Star Wars: Phantom Menace, or Episode 1.

She asked me if I would take her to see it, the answer was of course a resounding and very enthusiastic yes.

Phantom Menace was the first film in the new Star Wars trilogy, they were however of course prequels confusingly.

Mixed reviews by many greeted the film first time around. It was slated for its very prominent CGI characters and settings.

Jar Jar Binks in particular, the Gungan creature who added the comedy aspect. Many felt it was one annoying character too far.

Such was the level of the hatred towards the character a lot of good things were overlooked about the films.

With this in mind I decided me and Ly should watch it in style so we
headed for the Giant Screen Cinema at Millennium Point.

I posted this last year but damn it, I'm going to post it again.

It harks back to a more innocent age before our hopes and dreams were crushed by Jar Jar, jumping Yodas and midichlorians...

(Yes, THAT Ryan Adams!)

Image via Wikipedia

Film legend James Earl Jones is to recieve an honorary Oscar it has been revealed.

Jones, who is best known as the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars film, has appeared in more than 50 films during his career. He was Oscar nominated in 1971 for The Great White Hope.

The prizes will be handed out the Governors Awards in November.