Clive Revill, Original Voice of Palpatine, Dies at 94

Clive Revill, the original voice of Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, has passed away at the age of 94 after battling dementia. Revill's brief but significant contribution to the Star Wars saga included delivering the Emperor's lines during a pivotal holographic scene with Darth Vader, a role later re-voiced by Ian McDiarmid for the 2004 DVD release. Beyond Star Wars, Revill had a distinguished career in theater, receiving two Tony nominations, and appeared in films by Billy Wilder. He was encouraged by Laurence Olivier to pursue acting and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing extensively on Broadway. His diverse roles also extended to voice acting in animation, including Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: The Animated Series. Revill is survived by his daughter, Kate, and granddaughter, Kayla.