Anthony Daniels

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Anthony Daniels (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell;[1] born 21 February 1946)[2] is an English actor and mime artist, best known for playing C-3PO in 11 Star Wars films.Template:Efn He is the only actor to have either appeared in or been involved with all theatrical films in the series,[3] and has been involved in many of their spin-offs, including television series, video games, and radio serials.

Daniels was the voice of Legolas in the Ralph Bakshi animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings (1978). He has appeared intermittently on British television in various dramas, including playing a pathologist in Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren. Daniels was an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center.[4]

Early life

Daniels was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, the son of a plastics company executive.[5] He was educated at Giggleswick School and studied law for two years at university, then dropped out to participate in amateur dramatics and attend Rose Bruford College. After leaving the college in 1974, Daniels worked on BBC Radio and for the National Theatre of Great Britain at The Young Vic. Whilst working in the theatre, he was invited to meet director George Lucas, who was casting for Star Wars. Daniels at first turned down the interview but was persuaded by his agent to meet Lucas.[6]

Daniels has said that before his role in Star Wars, the only science fiction film he had ever seen in a theatre was 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968; he was so displeased with the film that he walked out after ten minutes and demanded his money back.[7] After Daniels was cast as C-3PO, Lucas recommended that he watch the film in its entirety to study HAL 9000's voice.Template:Sfn In a 2011 interview, Daniels said that he now regards 2001 as a masterpiece and that he also enjoys post-apocalyptic films such as Mad Max.[8]

He was a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company[9] and speaks fluent French.[10][11]

Career

Star Wars

After auditioning for the role of C-3PO, Daniels only became fully interested in it after seeing a concept design of the golden droid C-3PO by Ralph McQuarrie.Template:Sfn Daniels did not see the final costume until after donning it for the shoot and being shown a Polaroid photograph.Template:Sfn He struggled with delivering the character's lines until Lucas informed him that they would redub the dialogue in post-production.Template:Sfn Daniels also portrayed CZ-3, a protocol droid with a "white pointy face" in one shot in the original film.Template:SfnTemplate:Efn Daniels was depressed with his lack of recognition after the film's successful release; he attributes this to Lucasfilm wanting audiences to believe that the droids were real.Template:Sfn

File:Warwick Davis & Anthony Daniels 2.jpg
Daniels (right) with fellow Star Wars actor Warwick Davis (left) in 2007

Daniels has played C-3PO in all of the Star Wars feature films (with the exception of Solo: A Star Wars Story, in which he plays a different character) from the original installment in the series as the golden droid's body and voice. Kenny Baker, who played R2-D2 in the series until his death in 2016, said that he and Daniels did not get along.[12][13] Daniels has reprised the role for various promotional work such as hosting The Making of Star Wars, Star Wars Connections and Science of Star Wars, appearances on The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, an anti-smoking public service announcement, The Star Wars Holiday Special,[14] and advertising for Star Wars-licensed products such as Kenner toys and a breakfast cereal based on the character.[15]

Daniels voiced C-3PO in the Star Wars radio serial based on the original trilogy.[16] He is the only cast member of the original Star Wars trilogy to voice his character in all three parts of NPR's dramatisations of the trilogy. He voiced C-3PO for six animated series: Droids, Clone Wars, The Clone Wars, Rebels, Forces of Destiny, and Resistance. Other C-3PO voicework by Daniels includes: the Christmas-themed Christmas in the Stars album, Disney theme park attractions including Star Tours and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, and the Star Tours shutdown ceremony as a part of Disney's Hollywood Studios' "Last Tour to Endor" event at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Florida.Template:Efn He also provided the narration and all character voices for the audio books Dark Force Rising and The Last Command.[17] Daniels voiced C-3PO in the 2014 film The Lego Movie.

Daniels contributed the foreword to the collected scripts of the Return of the Jedi radio drama, as their author Brian Daley died while they were being recorded. Daniels' other Star Wars-related writings include the Wonder Column for Star Wars Insider magazineTemplate:Sfn and a comic book adventure for C-3PO and R2-D2 entitled The Protocol Offensive, published by Dark Horse Comics.[18]

File:AnthonyDanielsStandMay2011.jpg
Daniels in May 2011

In Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Daniels only voiced the character, which a puppeteer played on set.Template:Sfn Daniels attempted to puppeteer the character himself in the sequel, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, but after the script was changed, he returned to playing the droid in costume.[19] In this film and 2005's Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, he also performed the vocal tracks for scenes that featured a computer-generated C-3PO.

Daniels also makes cameo appearances as a humanoid in two scenes of the feature films. His character, Lieutenant Dannl Faytonni, appears in the nightclub scene early in Attack of the Clones as a man in blue uniform who can be seen in a cutaway reaction shot after Obi-Wan Kenobi disarms the bounty hunter Zam Wesell. Faytonni can also be seen at the Galaxies Opera House in Revenge of the Sith.[20]

Daniels reprised his role as C-3PO in the seventh Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, which was released in December 2015.[21] J. J. Abrams, the director of The Force Awakens, told Daniels that he was only going to be the voice of C-3PO in the film, but changed his mind and decided Daniels would wear the suit in the film as well. Abrams made a new C-3PO suit for Daniels to wear during filming using 3D printingTemplate:Sfn that allowed Daniels a great deal more mobility and comfort than the original suit. Daniels has stated his displeasure with the droid's red arm.Template:Sfn Daniels also appeared as C-3PO in 2017's The Last Jedi,[22][23][24] and 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.[25]

Daniels appears in a cameo as C-3PO in 2016's Rogue One, the first standalone film in the Star Wars anthology series.[26] He also makes an appearance as Tak in the second anthology film, Solo: A Star Wars Story,[26] and voiced C-3PO's cameo appearance in Ralph Breaks the Internet, and The Lego Movie alongside other crewmembers of the Millennium Falcon.[27] He has also hosted the Star Wars: In Concert tour in North America.[28] Daniels made cameos as C-3PO in Obi-Wan Kenobi[29] and Ahsoka.[30] Daniels is the only actor to act in all nine films of the Skywalker saga, two anthology films, the Star Wars Holiday Special, the 2008 Clone Wars film, the related television series and several TV series and specials (animated and live-action).[31][32]Template:Efn

In March 2017, All Nippon Airways introduced a Boeing 777 modelled after C-3PO into service. Daniels attended the aircraft's unveiling.[33]

In 2024, Daniels auctioned off some of his collection including the head-piece he wore.[34][35]

Daniels has attended several conventions as part of Star Wars Celebration as a guest since 1999.[36] He attended Star Wars Celebration Japan in April 2025.[37]

Other acting roles

Daniels was the voice of Legolas in the Ralph Bakshi animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings (1978). He has appeared intermittently on British television in various dramas, notably in a recurring role in Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren. He also played the priest in the British spoof horror film I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990).[38][39]

Other work

Daniels was an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center.[28]

He wrote the foreword for the DK reference book, Ultimate Star Wars (2015 and 2019 editions).[40]

His autobiography, I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story, was released on 5 November 2019 by DK.[41] He had previously considered using the title Telling the Odds.[42]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Ref.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1977 Star Wars C-3PO, CZ-3 [38]Template:Sfn
1978 Bruges-la-Morte Pierrot [43][44]
The Lord of the Rings Legolas Greenleaf
Deagol 		Voice; uncredited as Deagol [38]
1980 The Empire Strikes Back C-3PO [38]Template:Sfn
1982 Return of the Ewok Short video; unreleased Template:Sfn
1983 Return of the Jedi [38]Template:Sfn
1990 I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle Priest [39]
1999 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace C-3PO Template:Efn [38]Template:Sfn
2002 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones C-3PO, Dannl Faytonni [38]Template:Sfn
2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith [38]Template:Sfn
2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars C-3PO Voice [45]Template:Sfn
2014 The Lego Movie Voice; cameo [27]Template:Sfn
2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens [38]Template:Sfn
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Cameo [26]Template:Sfn
2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi [22][23][46]Template:Sfn
2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story Tak Cameo [47][26]
Ralph Breaks the Internet C-3PO Voice; cameo [48]Template:Sfn
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker [25]Template:Sfn

Television

Year Title Role Notes <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Ref.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1977 Donny & Marie C-3PO 1 episode, uncredited [49]Template:Sfn
1978 Star Wars Holiday Special TV special [14]
1979 Turning Year Tales John Episode: "Dear Harriet"
1980 The Muppet Show C-3PO Episode: "The Stars of Star Wars" [50][51]
Sesame Street 4 episodes [50]Template:Sfn
1984 The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady Kenneth 7 episodes [49]
1985 Star Wars: Droids C-3PO Voice;
13 episodes 		[52][51]
1986 The Great Heep TV movie Template:Sfn
1987 Three Up Two Down Rupert Fairfax Episode: "Mirror Mirror on the Wall" [53]
1988–89 Square Deal Julian 3 episodes [53]
1990 The Magical World of Disney C-3PO Voice;
Episode: "Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration" 		Template:Sfn
1992 The Bill Richard Lee-Ward Episode: "Stoning the Glasshouse" [49]
1995 Prime Suspect Pathologist "Inner Circles" and "The Lost Child", TV movies [38]
The Famous Five Professor Dobson Episode: "Five on a Secret Trail" [49]
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles François Episode: Attack of the Hawkmen [49]
1997 Star Wars: Droids – The Pirates and the Prince C-3PO Voice;
Video
2001 Urban Gothic Mr Tidyman Episode: "Serotonin Wild" [49]
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome Himself TV Short, uncredited Template:Sfn
2002 Star Wars: Connections C-3PO TV Short Template:Sfn
2004 Holby City Colonel Donald Humphries Episode: "In the Line of Fire" [54]
Ghosts of Albion Embers Lord Nelson Voice;
TV movie 		[49]
2007 Micro Safari: Journey to the Bugs MAL Voice
2004–05 Star Wars: Clone Wars C-3PO Voice;
4 episodes 		Template:Sfn
2008–11 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Voice;
11 episodes 		[27][51]
2010 Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III Voice;
TV movie
2011 Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace
2012 Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out
2012–13 Dirigible Days Narrator Voice;
Also executive producer;
5 episodes
2013–14 Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles C-3PO Voice;
6 episodes 		[49]
2014 Star Wars Rebels Voice;
Episode: "Droids in Distress" 		[51][49]
2015 Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales Voice;
5 episodes 		[51][49]
2017 Star Wars Forces of Destiny Voice;
Episode: "Beasts of Echo Base" 		Template:Sfn
2018 Star Wars Resistance Voice;
Episode: "The Recruit" 		Template:Sfn
2020 The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special Voice;
TV movie 		[55]
2022 Obi-Wan Kenobi Cameo; Episode: "Part I" [29]
Lego Star Wars: Summer Vacation Voice;
TV movie 		[56]
2023 Ahsoka Episode: "Part Seven: Dreams and Madness" [30][57]
2024 How NOT to Draw Voice;
1 episode: "R2-D2" 		[58]
Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Voice;
3 episodes 		[59]

Documentary

Year Title Role Notes <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Ref.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1977 The Making of Star Wars C-3PO / Host TV movie documentary Template:Sfn
1978 50th Academy Awards C-3PO / Presenter TV special Template:Sfn
1983 Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi C-3PO / Himself TV movie documentary Template:Sfn
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga Template:Sfn
2004 Empire of Dreams Video documentary Template:Sfn
2005 Science of Star Wars TV documentary miniseries Template:Sfn

Theme park attractions

Year Title Role Notes <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Ref.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1987 Star Tours C-3PO Uncredited; also provides the voice in the French dub [60]
2011 Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Uncredited [60]

Video games

Year Title Role Notes <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Ref.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1997 Monopoly Star Wars C-3PO Also writer Template:Sfn
2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels Template:Sfn
2009 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – Ultimate Sith Edition Template:Sfn
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 Template:Sfn
2015 Star Wars Battlefront Template:Sfn
2016 Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens [61]
I Expect You to Die Daniel Sans [62]
2020 Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge C-3PO [63]
2021 Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge- Last Call
2022 Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga [64]

Discography

References

Footnotes Template:Notelist

Citations Template:Reflist

Sources

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External links

Template:Sister project Template:Sister project

Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Jimmy Kimmel Live interview with J.J. Abrams and cast of The Rise of Skywalker (Jimmy Kimmel Live official YouTube channel)
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Lubow, Arthur. "The Forces Behind Jedi: Making Movie History Took Lucas & Co. to the Outer Limits", People, vol. 20, no. 6, 8 August 1983.
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Dermot O'Leary Show, BBC Radio 2, 21 March 2009.
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ "Radio and audio book companies" in Lloyd Trott, ed., Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016, pp. 353–354
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Famous co-stars who absolutely hated each other www.news.com.au, 4 November 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ ANA's 4th 'Star Wars' jet goes into domestic service 21 March 2017, www.japantoday.com, accessed 13 December 2020
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Bruges-La-Morte (1978) www.imdb.com, accessed 13 December 2020
  44. ↑ BRUGES-LA-MORTE 1978 FEATURE Prix de la Presse/ Ghent Film Fesvital (sic) 1980 ronaldchaseart.com, accessed 13 December 2020
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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