David Prowse

Star Wars: Episode V: Empire Strikes Back [1980 & 1997 Versions] [Widescreen]

Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi [1983 & 1997 Versions] [Widescreen]

Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope [1977 & 1997 Versions] [Widescreen]

Born: 07/01/1935 Bristol, Somerset, England

Decades Active:
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1890	1900	1910	1920	1930	1940	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000	2010
Biography: British actor David Prowse began weightlifting at the age of 16 and became his country's champion in that field five years later, holding on to the title for two years. Theatrical producers and filmakers found the imposed Prowse to be an excellent type for supernatural roles; he was cast as Death in the play -- Don't Let Summer Come -- principally because the role required Prowse to pick up and carry off one of the cast members. Following a bit in his first film, Casino Royale (1967), Prowse settled into horror films. He wasn't quite able to carry on the Karloff tradition as the Monster in The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) due to rather unimaginative makeup and uninspired direction. The actor's subsquent monster in Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell (1972) was more effective (with a truly disgusting makeup job), as was his role as wheelchair-bound Patrick Magee's foreboding bodyguard in A Clockwork Orange (1971). Prowse's widest international exposure occured in three films in which neither his voice was heard nor his face seen. He was paid $12,000 for his role as Darth Vader in Star Wars (1977) Prowse had his voice dubbed by James Earl Jones, who received $10,000. Both Prowse and Jones repeated their work in the Star Wars sequels Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983); but when David Prowse's black helmet mask was finally pulled off in Return of the Jedi (1983), the closeup was of an entirely different actor with a whole new voice! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

DVDs that David Prowse appeared in...

Green links represent a title available on SwapaDVD. Dates shown are DVD release dates.

09/12/2006 - Star Wars: Episode V: Empire Strikes Back [1980 & 1997 Versions] [Widescreen]
09/12/2006 - Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi [1983 & 1997 Versions] [Widescreen]
09/12/2006 - Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope [1977 & 1997 Versions] [Widescreen]
10/21/2003 - Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell
04/30/2002 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
11/20/2001 - The People That Time Forgot
10/23/2001 - Jabberwocky
08/07/2001 - Horror of Frankenstein
06/29/1999 - A Clockwork Orange [Widescreen]
06/29/1999 - A Clockwork Orange [Widescreen]