Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley dead at 87 after contracting COVID and pneumonia

Kenneth Colley, an actor best known for playing one of Darth Vader’s admirals in the original Star Wars trilogy has died aged 87.

News of his passing was shared by both the BBC and People this week, and confirmation came from his agent, Julian Owen, yesterday (July 3).

In a statement to People, Owen said that the actor died on Sunday (June 30) while at his home in Kent. He also shared that Colley was admitted to the hospital after he injured his arm in a fall. From there, he sadly contracted COVID, and this developed into a diagnosis of pneumonia.

“He passed away peacefully with friends at his bedside,” Owen added, while also praising Colley as “one of our finest character actors with a career spanning 60 years”.

“Ken continually worked on stage, film and television playing a vast array of characters, from Jesus in Monty Python‘s Life of Brian to evil and eccentric characters in Ken Russell films, and the Duke of Vienna in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure for the BBC,” his statement added.

As aforementioned by Owen, one of Colley’s most notable roles included his time in the 1979 Monty Python film. He is probably even more widely recognised for his role as Admiral Piett in the original Star Wars trilogy – seen alongside Darth Vader in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back and 1983’s Return Of The Jedi.

Kenneth Colley, who played Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, has passed away at the age of 87 due to complications from COVID and pneumonia. May the Force be with you, always. pic.twitter.com/3aVIFBLXf9

— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) July 3, 2025

His career began in the early ‘60s, and included roles such as The Plane Makers and A for Andromeda. With his breakout role in Star Wars, he became the only actor in the first six movies to play an Imperial officer in more than one film (via The Atlantic).

Among those paying tribute to the actor is his Monty Python co-star Michael Palin, who described Colley in a statement to The Independent as “a very special actor and a very good man” and “always dependable, always convincing and great to work with”.

Other roles Colley took on across his career included the stage production of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, which was held at the Cockpit Theatre in London in 2014 and saw him take on the character of Estragon. This, his agent said, was his “favourite” role.

Owen also added: “Ken’s participation in Star Wars led him to being invited to conventions and official fan events all over the world, where he remains one of the best-loved actors from the original trilogy. Ken loved his garden, art collecting and had a passion for fast cars.”

More roles he took on in his career included appearances in the 1988 series War And Remembrance, and in films like Firefox (1982), Holding On (1999), and Brassed Off (1997).

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