British actor Kenneth Colley, best known for portraying Admiral Piett in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, died on June 30 at his home in Ashford, Kent, England. He was 87 years old.
Colley’s agent Julian Owen confirmed the death on July 3, revealing that the actor had been hospitalized after injuring his arm in a fall. While in the hospital, he contracted COVID-19, which developed into pneumonia. Owen stated that Colley “passed away peacefully with friends at his bedside.”
The Manchester-born actor began his professional career in 1961 and worked continuously across stage, film, and television for more than 60 years. Owen described Colley as one of Britain’s finest character actors, noting his versatility in playing diverse roles from Jesus in “Monty Python’s Life of Brian” to eccentric characters in Ken Russell films.
Colley first appeared in the “Star Wars” franchise in 1980’s “The Empire Strikes Back” as Admiral Piett, an Imperial officer commanding Darth Vader’s flagship, the Executor. His character initially served as first officer under Admiral Kendal Ozzel before assuming command of the ship following Ozzel’s death at Vader’s hands. The role was not originally planned to return for the sequel, but George Lucas decided to include the character again after Lucasfilm received significant fan mail about Admiral Piett.
Colley reprised the role in 1983’s “Return of the Jedi” and later voiced the character in the 2012 animated film “Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out.” His participation in the beloved franchise led to invitations to conventions and fan events worldwide, where he became one of the most popular actors from the original trilogy.
Beyond “Star Wars,” Colley maintained a prolific career in British television and film. He appeared in episodes of long-running series including “Coronation Street,” “EastEnders,” “Misfits,” and “Peaky Blinders.” His film work included roles in Clint Eastwood’s “Firefox” (1982), where he played a Soviet colonel, and the NBC miniseries “War and Remembrance,” in which he portrayed Adolf Eichmann.
The actor enjoyed a particularly fruitful collaboration with director Ken Russell, appearing in seven of his films including “The Music Lovers” (1971), “The Devils” (1971), “Mahler” (1974), and “Lisztomania” (1975), where he portrayed composer Frédéric Chopin. He also worked frequently with members of Monty Python, appearing in Terry Gilliam’s “Jabberwocky” (1977) and notably playing Jesus in “Life of Brian” (1979).
Colley’s television career began in the 1960s with appearances on “The Avengers,” “Emergency-Ward 10,” and other British series. He performed with prestigious theater companies including London’s Old Vic, The Royal Court Theatre, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. According to Owen, Colley’s favorite role was playing Estragon in Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” at the Cockpit Theatre in London in 2014.
His most recent work included the 2024 film “Dan Hawk Psychic Detective” and providing narration for the album “Pop Wasteland” in 2017. The actor also tried his hand at directing with the 2007 horror film “Greetings.”
Despite having a stutter in real life, Colley’s speech difficulties disappeared when performing on stage or in front of cameras. This condition even became part of his character in the BBC drama “Pennies from Heaven,” where he played the Accordion Man with a stutter.
Owen noted that outside of acting, Colley enjoyed gardening, collecting art, and had a passion for fast cars. The actor’s death occurred around 5:30 p.m. on June 30, with his agent emphasizing that he died peacefully surrounded by friends.
Throughout his career, Colley appeared in numerous productions spanning different genres and decades, from early appearances in films like “How I Won the War” (1967) and “Oh! What a Lovely War” (1968) to later television work. His portrayal of Admiral Piett remains his most recognized role, introducing him to multiple generations of “Star Wars” fans worldwide.
