Clive Revill, the actor from New Zealand who first voiced Emperor Palpatine in “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back,” has died at 94. His daughter, Kate Revill, confirmed that he died on March 11, 2025, at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, California, after suffering from dementia.
Revill was born on April 18, 1930, in Wellington, New Zealand. Initially pursuing a career as an accountant, he transitioned to acting in his early 30s. His acting career started in 1950 with “Twelfth Night,” leading him to London, where he studied at the Old Vic Theatre and participated in several Shakespearean productions.
His Broadway career began in 1952 when he appeared in “Mr. Pickwick” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater, then known as the Plymouth Theater. Revill’s talent earned him two Tony Award nominations in the early 1960s, first for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for “Irma La Douce” and later for Best Actor for his role as Fagin in “Oliver!”
While establishing himself on stage, Revill also pursued a screen career. He appeared in the 1957 television series “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and films such as “Kaleidoscope” and “Fathom” with Raquel Welch.
Revill’s film credits include roles in “Otto Preminger’s Bunny Lake Is Missing” (1965), “Jack Smight’s Kaleidoscope” (1966), “The Legend of Hell House” (1973), “Zorro: The Gay Blade” (1981), “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993), and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” (1995). His work in Billy Wilder’s “Avanti!” (1972) earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
In 1980, Revill voiced the Emperor in George Lucas’ “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.” According to the Dallas Observer, his iconic line, “There is a great disturbance in the Force,” was recorded in just three takes. Although Ian McDiarmid replaced his voice in the 2004 DVD release, Revill’s portrayal remains significant to the series.
Revill expanded his involvement in the Star Wars universe by voicing characters in video games, including Dodonna in “Star Wars: X-Wing,” an imperial officer in “Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter,” and roles in “Star Wars: The Old Republic.” His voice talents extended to other franchises, such as “The Hobbit” video game, Alfred in 1992’s “Batman: The Animated Series,” and Galeo in “Snorks.”
Apart from his Star Wars contributions, Revill appeared in various television series, including “Columbo,” “Hart to Hart,” “Dynasty,” “Remington Steele,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “Newhart,” “MacGyver,” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” His ability to portray characters of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds was notable throughout his career.
Revill’s ties to the film industry were also personal. He was divorced twice and had a daughter, Kate, with his second wife, film producer Suzi Schor-Revill. He is survived by his granddaughter, Kayla.
Revill’s last screen role was in the 2016 film “The Queen of Spain,” featuring Penélope Cruz, Cary Elwes, and Mandy Patinkin. This marked the end of a distinguished career spanning seven decades and approximately 200 screen roles.
