Beloved 'Star Wars' Actor Dead at 82
Actor Michael Pennington, famous for his role as Moff Jerjerrod in 1983's Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, has died at the age of 82, as reported by British outlet The Telegraph on May 10. No cause of death was given.
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In the film, Pennington's Death Star Commander character is threatened by Darth Vader on behalf of Emperor Palpatine, who isn't happy with the speed of the Death Star II's construction. Take a peek at the iconic clip:
While Pennington may be most well-known in America for his role in the iconic intergalactic series of films, theater fans and U.K. citizens likely recognize him for his lifelong dedication to Shakespeare.
He first joined England's Royal Shakespeare Company as a bit player in 1964, according to the outlet, before going on to found his own troupe, The English Shakespeare Company, in 1986, with the goal of taking larger-scale classical productions on tour.
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In fact, Pennington turned down some major screen opportunities to continue his Shakespearean work. In 1980, he eschewed the chance to play the male lead opposite Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman. "I realized I couldn't let Hamlet go," he said, according to The Telegraph. "It is one of the prizes."
Decades later, he did go on to star in The Iron Lady with Streep, who went on to win an Oscar for the project.
However, he did have a long and fruitful acting career, both on stage and on screen. He was in many British TV programs and films, and some popular U.S. projects like Waking theDead and The Tudors. He even wrote several books about acting and the entertainment industry. His final role was in 2022 as the voice of The Trust in Ridley Scott's HBO Max series Raised by Wolves.
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In his personal life, Pennington married Katharine Barker in 1964, with whom he welcomed one son. After their divorce in 1967, he had a long-term relationship with his partner Prue Skene, who died in 2025.
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This story was originally published May 10, 2026 at 1:58 PM.