Kenny Baker (English actor)

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Kenneth George Baker (24 August 1934 – 13 August 2016) was an English actor, comedian and musician. He portrayed the character R2-D2 in the Star Wars franchise and also appeared in The Elephant Man, Time Bandits, Willow, Flash Gordon, Amadeus and Labyrinth.

Early life

Baker was born and educated in Birmingham, Warwickshire, and at a boarding school in Kent.[1] He was the son of Ethel (1906–1990), a pianist and dress maker, and Harold Baker (1908–1949), an artist, musician and draughtsman.[2][1] He went to live with his father, stepmother, and half-sister in Hastings, Sussex.

Due to his dwarfism, Baker stood Script error: No such module "convert".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". as an adult.[3] Both his parents were of average height.

Career

Beginnings

In 1951, Baker was approached on the street by a woman who invited him to join John Lester's theatrical troupe of little people. This was his first taste of show business. Later, he joined a circus for a brief time, learned to ice skate and appeared in many ice shows. He formed a successful comedy act called The Mini Tones with entertainer Jack Purvis and played in nightclubs.[4][5]Template:Sfn

Star Wars

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1977-1983: Star Wars original trilogy

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". While working with Purvis and the Minitones, Baker was selected by George Lucas to operate the robot ("droid") R2-D2 in the fantasy feature film Star Wars, released in 1977.[6]Template:Sfn Baker recalled that he initially turned down the role,[4] concerned about breaking up the Minitones partnership when the duo had reached the final on the British television talent show Opportunity Knocks.[7] On 22 March 1976, Baker's first day of filming took place at Tunisia which provided the setting for Tatooine.Template:Sfn He "wore a harness that secured the R2-D2 unit to his body"Template:Sfn and controlled turning the head, walk or light up whenever it was required.Template:Sfn His costume weighed about 80 pounds and he also made his character wobble.Template:Sfn There was an opaque window and although Baker could not see much at all, he insisted he "didn't need to, as long as [he] could see who [he] was supposed to be reacting to."Template:Sfn A mechanical R2-D2 was built for some scenes which required the droid to roll along on three legs.Template:Sfn The success of Star Wars led to more films rounding out the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy which continued Baker's association with his character and the franchise. Prior to the release Baker like with the cast and crew did not expect the film to be a success.Template:Sfn

Baker appears as R2-D2 in six of the episodic theatrical Star Wars films,Template:Efn and played an additional role in 1983's Return of the Jedi as Paploo, the ewok who steals an Imperial speeder bike.[1] He was originally due to play the ewok named Wicket, but he fell ill and that role was handed over to Warwick Davis. Baker was featured in the 2004 documentary film, Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy.

1997-2005: Star Wars prequel trilogy

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Prior to the beginning of filming on Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace in 1997, fans campaigned on the Internet to retain Baker as R2-D2; George Lucas replied that the actor would reprise the role.Template:Sfn Baker operated R2-D2 for scenes which did not require radio-controlled versions of the character.Template:Sfn The film was released to cinemas in May 1999. Although reviews were initially mixed the film became the highest grossing film of 1999 and the highest-grossing Star Wars film at the time of its release. As technology grew and the need to have Baker in the suit decreased over time, he acted sporadically in the prequel trilogy. In Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, he acted in just one scene.Template:SfnScript error: No such module "Unsubst". By time the film was released to cinemas in May 2002, work had begun on the last film of the prequel trilogy.Template:Sfn On 23 April 2003, it was announced on the Star Wars website that Baker would reprise his role in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, the last instalment of the prequel trilogy and last film to be distributed by 20th Century Fox.Template:Sfn Two of his co-stars, Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew from the original trilogy were also announced to be reprising their roles as C-3PO and Chewbacca respectively.Template:Sfn

2012-2016: Last Star Wars film, successor and last appearance

Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in October 2012, Baker continued his Star Wars association with the R2-D2 character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which was released on 18 December 2015 in North America. It was the first live-action film to be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and received positive reviews. He was going to be a member of the cast, but he served as consultant for the character instead.[8][1] In November 2015, it was confirmed that Jimmy Vee was cast as R2-D2 in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, replacing Baker.[9][10] Baker attended several conventions as part of Star Wars Celebration as a guest. Celebration Europe III in July 2016 marked his last appearance at Celebration.

Anthony Daniels said in his memoirs that Baker "adored his association with Star Wars and Artoo and the fans."Template:Sfn

Other work

Baker's other films include The Elephant Man, Time Bandits (also with Jack Purvis), Willow (also with Purvis and Warwick Davis), Flash Gordon, Amadeus and Jim Henson's Labyrinth.[1]

On television, he appeared in the British medical drama Casualty. He also had a part in the BBC production of The Chronicles of Narnia. In the late 1990s, Baker launched a brief comedy career. He played Casanova in the 1993 movie UFO.

In November 2009, his biography, From Tiny Acorns: The Kenny Baker Story, was written with Ken Mills and published by Writestuff Autographs.[11]

Personal life

Baker resided in Preston, Lancashire.[5] He was married to actress Eileen Baker (who co-starred with him in the 1977 film Wombling Free) from 1970 until she died in 1993.[4] Although Eileen also had dwarfism, their two children did not inherit their parents' dwarfism.[12]

Baker was invited to attend the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Los Angeles in December 2015, but was too ill to travel to the US.[13] He had been living with a lung condition for years.[4] Instead, Baker attended the film's premiere in London.[14][15]

Death

Baker died on 13 August 2016, 11 days shy of his 82nd birthday.[4][1] His funeral was held at the Park Cemetery and Crematorium in Lytham St Annes on 24 August 2016.[16][1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Ref.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1960 Circus of Horrors Dwarf Uncredited
1977 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope R2-D2 [1][13]
Wombling Free Bungo
1980 Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back R2-D2 [1][13]
Flash Gordon Dwarf [13][17]
Script error: No such module "sort". Plumed Dwarf [1][13]
1981 Time Bandits Fidgit [1][13]
1983 Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi R2-D2, Paploo [1][13]
1984 Amadeus Parody Commendatore [1][17]
1986 Mona Lisa Brighton Busker [1]
Labyrinth Goblin Corps [1][17]
1987 Star Tours R2-D2 Short film, uncredited
Sleeping Beauty Elf [17]
1988 Willow Nelwyn Band Member Uncredited [1]
1993 U.F.O. Giacomo Casanova
1999 Script error: No such module "sort". Captain Orton Voice, credited as Ken Baker
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace R2-D2 [1][13]
2002 24 Hour Party People Zookeeper Uncredited
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones R2-D2 [1][13]
Script error: No such module "sort". Merlin Short film
2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith R2-D2 [1][13]
2013 One Night at the Aristo Script error: No such module "sort". Voice, short film
2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens R2-D2 Consultant [1]

Television

Year Title Role Notes <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Ref.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1962 Man of the World Script error: No such module "sort". Episode: "Specialist for the Kill", credited as Ken Baker [15]
1975 Dave Allen at Large Salesman Season 4, Episode 36
1980 Script error: No such module "sort". R2-D2 Episode: "The Stars of Star Wars"
1981 Script error: No such module "sort". Dwarf Episode: "Snow White 2"
1982 Script error: No such module "sort". Pick Pocket TV film
1984 Script error: No such module "sort". HRH The Rangdo of Arg Two episodes
1985 Der Rosenkavalier Baron Och's Retinue TV film
1989 Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader Dufflepud TV special
1990 Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie Invisible Demon Episode 5
1991 The Paradise Club Himself Episode: "Family Favours"
1992 Casualty Archie Episode: "Act of Faith"
1999 Boobs in the Wood Bruce the Convict Direct-to-video
2003 Swiss Toni Guyler Episode: "Cars Don't Make You Fat"
2007 Casualty Charles Isaac Episode: "The Miracle on Harry's Last Shift"

References

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Print sources

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External links

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