David Prowse
Encyclopedia
David Prowse, MBE
(born 1 July 1935) is an English former bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor, most widely known for playing the role of Darth Vader
in physical form. In Britain, he is also remembered as having played the Green Cross Code
man. Prowse is a native of Bristol
, where he attended Bristol Grammar School
.
in the original Star Wars trilogy. James Earl Jones
, however, provided the voice for the character. Prowse spoke the dialogue during the filming of the movie, and didn't actually know Vader was Luke's father until he saw The Empire Strikes Back
in the cinema. Though he was never going to be used as the voice of Darth Vader, he claims he was originally told that he would be seen and heard at the end of Return of the Jedi
when Vader's mask was removed. This did not end up happening as actor Sebastian Shaw
was brought in instead. However, Lucas claims he wanted a 'darker voice' (Lucas has stated that Darth Vader had to have a deep, reverberating voice) that Prowse could not provide and never intended to use Prowse's voice. In the 2004 documentary, Empire of Dreams
, actress Carrie Fisher
, who played Princess Leia Organa
in the original trilogy films, quipped that they nicknamed Prowse "Darth Farmer" because of his un-intimidating West Country accent
. In the lightsaber
battle scenes following Prowse's disastrous doubling
of himself in the first film's lightsaber fight, Prowse's fencing coach Bob Anderson
(who also taught the sword fighters in The Princess Bride
and Lord Of The Rings
) took his place as a stunt double.
To Prowse, the most annoying incident came during the filming of The Empire Strikes Back, in which the major plot twist is the revelation of who Luke Skywalker
's father really is. In the original film
, Skywalker is told by Obi-Wan Kenobi
that his father, Anakin Skywalker, was betrayed and murdered by Kenobi's own apprentice, Darth Vader. However, in The Empire Strikes Back, Vader himself reveals that he is actually Anakin. According to director Irvin Kershner
, the shooting script had a false page with Vader's dialogue implicating Kenobi as the murderer of Luke's father, but at the time, only he, George Lucas, screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan
, and producer Gary Kurtz
were privy to the knowledge that Vader and Anakin were to be the same person.
Moments before the scene was filmed, Mark Hamill
, the actor playing Luke, was taken aside privately and told the truth by Kershner, who encouraged him to ignore the dialogue Prowse was speaking and "use your own rhythm compared to what he's doing". During filming, Prowse performed the false lines, while the real lines were later spoken by James Earl Jones
in post production – the majority of the cast, including Prowse, were not aware of this plot twist until the first screening of the finished film; at the premiere of the film, Prowse was taken aback, and spoke privately to Kershner later, saying that he (in Kershner's words) "would have done it differently" had he known of the twist. In later years, Prowse claimed he would sometimes deliver joke versions of his lines in Empire and Jedi, knowing that the vocal takes would not be used.
Prowse reprised his role of Darth Vader for the video games Monopoly Star Wars and Star Wars: The Interactive Video Board Game
.
Prowse continues to associate himself with his role in the Star Wars films and is involved in the convention circuit. Despite this, he has not been included in recent reunions of the original cast, such as those for the Empire of Dreams documentary and the 2005 Vanity Fair
cover.
Recently he played a small cameo role in Star Wars fanfilms "Order of the Sith: Vengeance" and its sequel "Downfall" – Order of the Sith – alongside Jeremy Bulloch
and Michael Sheard
. These fanfilms were made in England in support of the charity Save the Children.
In 2008, he was one of the cast members featured on Justin Lee Collins
's Bring Back...Star Wars. Prowse commented that he had a dispute with George Lucas
after he allegedly leaked reports of Darth Vader's death to the press. Subsequently the appearance of Darth Vader was to be played by Sebastian Shaw
and not Prowse.
In July 2010, Prowse was banned from attending official Star Wars fan conventions after 'annoying' director George Lucas. Lucas has given Prowse no reason, other than the fact that Prowse "burnt too many bridges" between Lucasfilm and himself.
Within the United Kingdom, Prowse is also well-known as the Green Cross Code
Man, a superhero invented to promote a British road safety campaign for children in 1975. As a result of his association with the campaign, which ran between 1971 and 1990, he received the MBE in 2000.
He had a role as F. Alexander's bodyguard Julian in the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange
, in which he was noticed by the future Star Wars director George Lucas
. He played a circus strongman in 1972's Vampire Circus
, a Minotaur
in the 1972 Doctor Who
serial The Time Monster
, and an android named Copper in The Tomorrow People
in 1973. He also appeared in an episode of Space: 1999
, The Beta Cloud
in 1976 right before he was cast as Darth Vader. Around that time, he also appeared as the Black Knight in the Terry Gilliam
film Jabberwocky
(1977).
He had a small role as Hotblack Desiato's bodyguard in the 1981 BBC TV adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
. He also appeared in the first series of Ace of Wands
on LWT and as a bodyguard in Callan
. He played Charles, the duke's wrestler, in the BBC Television Shakespeare
production of As You Like It
in 1978.
Prowse played Frankenstein's monster
three times: in the 1967 version of Casino Royale
(which was also his film debut); The Horror of Frankenstein
in a more or less recognizable form; and finally in Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
.
Prowse also made two uncredited appearances on The Benny Hill Show
. On Hill's first show for Thames Television
in 1969, he played a briefs-clad muscleman in the "Ye Olde Wishing Well" quickie, and in 1984 he showed off his muscles in a sketch set to the song "Stupid Cupid." The earlier routine was also featured in the 1974 movie The Best of Benny Hill
, in which he was credited.
Amongst his many non-speaking roles, Prowse played a major speaking role in a late episode of The Saint
broadcast in 1969.
In May 2010, he played Frank Bryan in The Kindness of Strangers, an independent British film produced by Queen Bee Films. The film screened at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
.
Prowse won the British heavyweight weightlifting championship in 1962 and the following two years. He represented England in the weightlifting
event at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
in Perth, Western Australia
.
He helped train Christopher Reeve
for the role of Superman
in the 1978 film and its sequels after lobbying for the part himself. In a television interview, he related how his response to being told "We've found our Superman" was "Thank you very much." Then he was told that Reeve had been chosen and he was only to be a trainer.
He also trained Cary Elwes
for his role as Westley in The Princess Bride
. Prowse is now the official leader of the 501st Legion
, a fan group dedicated to Star Wars costuming.
In January 2009, Prowse teamed up with respected musician Jayce Lewis
after the pair managing his band. Jayce Lewis
signed a five-year deal with Industry giant EMI Records
. Later, Prowse and Lewis formed an association with Dave being his sole contact for PR – an alliance that has proven very successful.
On 13 May 2009, Prowse publicly declared his support for the United Kingdom Independence Party
(UKIP) in the European Parliament election, 2009
. Prowse said that "I've looked right and left and right again and the only party I can safely vote for is UKIP," and "And I have two messages for those considering how to vote. Firstly, stop, look and listen to what is being said. Only UKIP is actually telling us the truth about the European Union and why we need to leave it. Secondly, may June the fourth be with you."
housing estate in Bristol
, winning a scholarship to Bristol Grammar School
. In his teens, Prowse was 6ft 5ins tall, and developed an interest in bodybuilding
. His early jobs included a bouncer
at a dance hall, where he met his future wife, and a lifeguard at Henleaze swimming pool. Following his successes in the British heavyweight weightlifting championship from 1961, in 1963 he left Bristol to work for a London weightlifting company.
for much of his life. That has led to replacements of both hips and his ankle being fused
, as well as several revisionary surgeries on his hip replacements. Prowse's arthritic symptoms first appeared at age 13, but seemingly disappeared when he took up competitive weightlifting. However, they reappeared in 1990.
In 2001, Prowse's left arm became paralyzed, followed by his right. He was diagnosed with septic arthritis
caused by an infection he attributes to an allergy
to some of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs he was prescribed, which nearly killed him. The amount of surgery he has had has also drastically reduced his height. At his peak, he was 6 feet, 6 inches (198 cm) tall. Nowadays he has lost several inches due to his surgeries and his age.
Today, Prowse works with various arthritis organizations in Britain and is vice-president of the Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied Association.
In 1999, it was rumoured that thieves broke into Prowse's home and stole the lightsaber
he used in the Star Wars trilogy and several of his other possessions. However, after a discussion with Prowse on 4 May 2007, he said that the "lightsaber" was actually a toy and not an original prop. He explained that the story printed about the break-in concentrated on the supposed "lightsaber" and not on the jewellery and other valuables taken. He further said that he was never given any of the props from the Star Wars films.
Prowse is married with three children and is a prominent supporter of Bristol Rugby
club.
In March 2009, Prowse revealed that he is suffering from prostate cancer
and has undergone radiation therapy
since the beginning of 2009 at the Royal Marsden Hospital in south London. He discovered that he had the cancer following his participation in a charity event, in aid of a prostate cancer charity, where a representative of the charity asked whether, as a man over 50, he had had a PSA test
The conversation stayed in his mind, and on a future visit to a GP
, he requested the blood test that eventually led to diagnosis. As of 2009 he is in remission.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1 July 1935) is an English former bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor, most widely known for playing the role of Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
in physical form. In Britain, he is also remembered as having played the Green Cross Code
Green Cross Code
The Green Cross Code is a brand created by the UK National Road Safety Committee to raise awareness of pedestrian road safety in the UK...
man. Prowse is a native of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, where he attended Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
.
Darth Vader
Prowse is best known for playing the physical form of Darth VaderDarth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
in the original Star Wars trilogy. James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
, however, provided the voice for the character. Prowse spoke the dialogue during the filming of the movie, and didn't actually know Vader was Luke's father until he saw The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
in the cinema. Though he was never going to be used as the voice of Darth Vader, he claims he was originally told that he would be seen and heard at the end of Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...
when Vader's mask was removed. This did not end up happening as actor Sebastian Shaw
Sebastian Shaw (actor)
Sebastian Lewis Shaw was an English actor, director, novelist, playwright and poet. During his 65-year career, Shaw appeared in dozens of stage performances and more than 40 film and television productions....
was brought in instead. However, Lucas claims he wanted a 'darker voice' (Lucas has stated that Darth Vader had to have a deep, reverberating voice) that Prowse could not provide and never intended to use Prowse's voice. In the 2004 documentary, Empire of Dreams
Empire of Dreams
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy is a 2004 documentary film directed by Kevin Burns and narrated by Robert Clotworthy. It documents the making of the original Star Wars trilogy: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back , and Star Wars...
, actress Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Frances Fisher is an American actress, novelist, screenwriter, and lecturer. She is most famous for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, her bestselling novel Postcards from the Edge, for which she wrote the screenplay to the film of the same name, and her...
, who played Princess Leia Organa
Princess Leia Organa
Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe...
in the original trilogy films, quipped that they nicknamed Prowse "Darth Farmer" because of his un-intimidating West Country accent
West Country dialects
The West Country dialects and West Country accents are generic terms applied to any of several English dialects and accents used by much of the indigenous population of South West England, the area popularly known as the West Country....
. In the lightsaber
Lightsaber
A lightsaber is a fictional weapon in the Star Wars universe, a "laser sword." It consists of a polished metal hilt which projects a blade of light about 1.33 metres long. The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Jedi order and their Sith counterparts, both of whom can use them for close...
battle scenes following Prowse's disastrous doubling
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
of himself in the first film's lightsaber fight, Prowse's fencing coach Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson (fencer)
Bob Anderson is an English actor and fencer. Anderson also owns a claim to fame for being a swordfighting trainer for several films, as well as a stunt double for Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He is one of seven people to...
(who also taught the sword fighters in The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride (film)
The Princess Bride is a 1987 American film based on the 1973 novel of the same name by William Goldman, combining comedy, adventure, romance, and fantasy. The film was directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by Goldman...
and Lord Of The Rings
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
) took his place as a stunt double.
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
's father really is. In the original film
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
, Skywalker is told by Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is one of several primary characters in the Star Wars series. Along with Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO, he is one of the few major characters to appear in all six Star Wars films...
that his father, Anakin Skywalker, was betrayed and murdered by Kenobi's own apprentice, Darth Vader. However, in The Empire Strikes Back, Vader himself reveals that he is actually Anakin. According to director Irvin Kershner
Irvin Kershner
Irvin Kershner was an American film director and occasional actor, best known for directing quirky, independent films early in his career, and then Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. -Background:...
, the shooting script had a false page with Vader's dialogue implicating Kenobi as the murderer of Luke's father, but at the time, only he, George Lucas, screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan
Lawrence Kasdan
Lawrence Edward "Larry" Kasdan is an American film producer, director and screenwriter.-Life and career:Kasdan was born in Miami, Florida, the son of Sylvia Sarah , an employment counselor, and Clarence Norman Kasdan, who managed retail electronics stores.His Brother is the writer/producer Mark...
, and producer Gary Kurtz
Gary Kurtz
Gary Kurtz is an American film producer whose list of credits include American Graffiti, Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. He later produced The Dark Crystal and Return to Oz after departing from the Star Wars series...
were privy to the knowledge that Vader and Anakin were to be the same person.
Moments before the scene was filmed, Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill is an American actor, voice artist, producer, director, and writer, best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy of Star Wars. More recently, he has received acclaim for his voice work, in such roles as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, Firelord...
, the actor playing Luke, was taken aside privately and told the truth by Kershner, who encouraged him to ignore the dialogue Prowse was speaking and "use your own rhythm compared to what he's doing". During filming, Prowse performed the false lines, while the real lines were later spoken by James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
in post production – the majority of the cast, including Prowse, were not aware of this plot twist until the first screening of the finished film; at the premiere of the film, Prowse was taken aback, and spoke privately to Kershner later, saying that he (in Kershner's words) "would have done it differently" had he known of the twist. In later years, Prowse claimed he would sometimes deliver joke versions of his lines in Empire and Jedi, knowing that the vocal takes would not be used.
Prowse reprised his role of Darth Vader for the video games Monopoly Star Wars and Star Wars: The Interactive Video Board Game
Star Wars: The Interactive Video Board Game
Star Wars: The Interactive Video Game Board was a board game created by Hasbro in 1996. It is notable for including a VHS tape of newly shot scenes of Darth Vader walking down the halls of the Death Star.-Includes:*1 60-Minute VHS videotape...
.
Prowse continues to associate himself with his role in the Star Wars films and is involved in the convention circuit. Despite this, he has not been included in recent reunions of the original cast, such as those for the Empire of Dreams documentary and the 2005 Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
cover.
Recently he played a small cameo role in Star Wars fanfilms "Order of the Sith: Vengeance" and its sequel "Downfall" – Order of the Sith – alongside Jeremy Bulloch
Jeremy Bulloch
Jeremy Bulloch is an English actor. He is best known for the role inside the costume of the bounty hunter Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy, though he did not voice the character...
and Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard was a Scottish actor who featured in a large number of films and television programmes.-Early life:...
. These fanfilms were made in England in support of the charity Save the Children.
In 2008, he was one of the cast members featured on Justin Lee Collins
Justin Lee Collins
Justin Lee Collins, commonly known as JLC, is an award-winning English comedian and television presenter.A Bristolian, he's well known for his strong West Country accent, shaggy appearance and colourful shirts....
's Bring Back...Star Wars. Prowse commented that he had a dispute with George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
after he allegedly leaked reports of Darth Vader's death to the press. Subsequently the appearance of Darth Vader was to be played by Sebastian Shaw
Sebastian Shaw (actor)
Sebastian Lewis Shaw was an English actor, director, novelist, playwright and poet. During his 65-year career, Shaw appeared in dozens of stage performances and more than 40 film and television productions....
and not Prowse.
In July 2010, Prowse was banned from attending official Star Wars fan conventions after 'annoying' director George Lucas. Lucas has given Prowse no reason, other than the fact that Prowse "burnt too many bridges" between Lucasfilm and himself.
Other roles
Green Cross Code
The Green Cross Code is a brand created by the UK National Road Safety Committee to raise awareness of pedestrian road safety in the UK...
Man, a superhero invented to promote a British road safety campaign for children in 1975. As a result of his association with the campaign, which ran between 1971 and 1990, he received the MBE in 2000.
He had a role as F. Alexander's bodyguard Julian in the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange (film)
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. It was written, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick...
, in which he was noticed by the future Star Wars director George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
. He played a circus strongman in 1972's Vampire Circus
Vampire Circus
Vampire Circus is a 1972 British horror film directed by Robert Young for Hammer Film Productions. It stars Adrienne Corri, Thorley Walters and Anthony Higgins . The story concerns a travelling carnival whose vampiric artistes prey on the children of a 19th-century Austrian village...
, a Minotaur
Minotaur
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur , as the Greeks imagined him, was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, "part man and part bull"...
in the 1972 Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
serial The Time Monster
The Time Monster
The Time Monster is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 20 May to 24 June 1972.- Synopsis :...
, and an android named Copper in The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People is a British children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price. Produced by Thames Television for the ITV Network, the series first ran between 1973 and 1979. The series was re-imagined in 1992, Roger Price acting as executive producer...
in 1973. He also appeared in an episode of Space: 1999
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
, The Beta Cloud
The Beta Cloud
"The Beta Cloud" is the fourteenth episode of the second series of Space: 1999 . The screenplay was written by Charles Woodgrove ; the director was Robert Lynn. The final shooting script is dated 11 June 1976...
in 1976 right before he was cast as Darth Vader. Around that time, he also appeared as the Black Knight in the Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
film Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky
"Jabberwocky" is a nonsense verse poem written by Lewis Carroll in his 1872 novel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, a sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland...
(1977).
He had a small role as Hotblack Desiato's bodyguard in the 1981 BBC TV adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was later adapted to other formats, and over several years it gradually became an international multi-media phenomenon...
. He also appeared in the first series of Ace of Wands
Ace of Wands
Ace of Wands is a fantasy-based British children's television show broadcast on ITV between 1970 and 1972, created by Trevor Preston and Pamela Lonsdale and produced by Thames Television. The title, taken from the name of a Tarot card describes the principal character, called "Tarot" who combined...
on LWT and as a bodyguard in Callan
Callan (TV series)
Callan is the title of a British television series set in the murky world of espionage. Originally produced by ABC Weekend Television and later Thames Television, it was aired on the ITV network over four seasons spread out between 1967 and 1972...
. He played Charles, the duke's wrestler, in the BBC Television Shakespeare
BBC Television Shakespeare
The BBC Television Shakespeare was a set of television adaptations of the plays of William Shakespeare, produced by the BBC between 1978 and 1985.-Origins:...
production of As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
in 1978.
Prowse played Frankenstein's monster
Frankenstein's monster
Frankenstein's monster is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. The creature is often erroneously referred to as "Frankenstein", but in the novel the creature has no name...
three times: in the 1967 version of Casino Royale
Casino Royale (1967 film)
Casino Royale is a 1967 comedy spy film originally produced by Columbia Pictures starring an ensemble cast of directors and actors. It is set as a satire of the James Bond film series and the spy genre, and is loosely based on Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel.The film stars David Niven as the...
(which was also his film debut); The Horror of Frankenstein
The Horror of Frankenstein
The Horror of Frankenstein is a 1970 British horror film by Hammer Film Productions that is both a semi-parody and remake of the 1957 film The Curse of Frankenstein. It was produced and directed by Jimmy Sangster, starring Ralph Bates, Kate O'Mara, Veronica Carlson and David Prowse as the monster...
in a more or less recognizable form; and finally in Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell is a 1974 British horror film from Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by Terence Fisher and starred Peter Cushing, Shane Briant, and David Prowse...
.
Prowse also made two uncredited appearances on The Benny Hill Show
The Benny Hill Show
The Benny Hill Show is a British comedy television show starring Benny Hill.There were various incarnations of the show between 1951 and 1991, and it aired in over 140 countries. The show is generally sketch-based with heavy use of slapstick, mime, parody and double-entendre...
. On Hill's first show for Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
in 1969, he played a briefs-clad muscleman in the "Ye Olde Wishing Well" quickie, and in 1984 he showed off his muscles in a sketch set to the song "Stupid Cupid." The earlier routine was also featured in the 1974 movie The Best of Benny Hill
The Best of Benny Hill
The Best of Benny Hill is a 1974 film spinoff from the television comedy series The Benny Hill Show. This movie features sketches from the early Thames Television years from 1969-1973...
, in which he was credited.
Amongst his many non-speaking roles, Prowse played a major speaking role in a late episode of The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
broadcast in 1969.
In May 2010, he played Frank Bryan in The Kindness of Strangers, an independent British film produced by Queen Bee Films. The film screened at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
2010 Cannes Film Festival
The 63rd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 12 to May 23, 2010, in Cannes, France. The Cannes Film Festival, hailed as being one of the most recognized and prestigious film festivals worldwide, was founded in 1946. It consists of having films screened in and out of competition during the...
.
Other activities
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
event at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia from 22 November-1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth....
in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
He helped train Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
for the role of Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
in the 1978 film and its sequels after lobbying for the part himself. In a television interview, he related how his response to being told "We've found our Superman" was "Thank you very much." Then he was told that Reeve had been chosen and he was only to be a trainer.
He also trained Cary Elwes
Cary Elwes
Ivan Simon Cary Elwes , known professionally as Cary Elwes, is an English actor. The son of Dominick Elwes and Tessa Georgina Kennedy, Elwes acted in off-Broadway plays during college and moved to the United States in the early 1980s. He is known for his role as Westley in the cult classic The...
for his role as Westley in The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride is a 1973 fantasy novel written by William Goldman. It was originally published in the United States by Harcourt Brace, while in the UK it is/was published by Bloomsbury Publishing....
. Prowse is now the official leader of the 501st Legion
501st Legion
The 501st Legion is an international fan-based organization dedicated to the construction and wearing of screen-accurate replicas of Imperial Stormtrooper armor, Imperial officer uniforms, Clone Troopers and other villains and nefarious characters from the Star Wars universe...
, a fan group dedicated to Star Wars costuming.
In January 2009, Prowse teamed up with respected musician Jayce Lewis
Jayce Lewis
Jayce Lewis is a Welsh solo artist from Bridgend. He was a respected guitarist and drummer before embarking on a solo career.-Musicianship:...
after the pair managing his band. Jayce Lewis
Jayce Lewis
Jayce Lewis is a Welsh solo artist from Bridgend. He was a respected guitarist and drummer before embarking on a solo career.-Musicianship:...
signed a five-year deal with Industry giant EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
. Later, Prowse and Lewis formed an association with Dave being his sole contact for PR – an alliance that has proven very successful.
On 13 May 2009, Prowse publicly declared his support for the United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
(UKIP) in the European Parliament election, 2009
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
. Prowse said that "I've looked right and left and right again and the only party I can safely vote for is UKIP," and "And I have two messages for those considering how to vote. Firstly, stop, look and listen to what is being said. Only UKIP is actually telling us the truth about the European Union and why we need to leave it. Secondly, may June the fourth be with you."
Early life
Prowse was brought up on the SouthmeadSouthmead
Southmead is a northern suburb and council ward of Bristol, in the southwest of England. The town of Filton , and the Bristol suburbs of Monks Park, Horfield, Henleaze and Westbury on Trym lie on its boundaries....
housing estate in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, winning a scholarship to Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
. In his teens, Prowse was 6ft 5ins tall, and developed an interest in bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
. His early jobs included a bouncer
Bouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
at a dance hall, where he met his future wife, and a lifeguard at Henleaze swimming pool. Following his successes in the British heavyweight weightlifting championship from 1961, in 1963 he left Bristol to work for a London weightlifting company.
Health problems and personal life
Prowse has suffered from arthritisArthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
for much of his life. That has led to replacements of both hips and his ankle being fused
Bone grafting
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone in order to repair bone fractures that are extremely complex, pose a significant health risk to the patient, or fail to heal properly....
, as well as several revisionary surgeries on his hip replacements. Prowse's arthritic symptoms first appeared at age 13, but seemingly disappeared when he took up competitive weightlifting. However, they reappeared in 1990.
In 2001, Prowse's left arm became paralyzed, followed by his right. He was diagnosed with septic arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
caused by an infection he attributes to an allergy
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
to some of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs he was prescribed, which nearly killed him. The amount of surgery he has had has also drastically reduced his height. At his peak, he was 6 feet, 6 inches (198 cm) tall. Nowadays he has lost several inches due to his surgeries and his age.
Today, Prowse works with various arthritis organizations in Britain and is vice-president of the Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied Association.
In 1999, it was rumoured that thieves broke into Prowse's home and stole the lightsaber
Lightsaber
A lightsaber is a fictional weapon in the Star Wars universe, a "laser sword." It consists of a polished metal hilt which projects a blade of light about 1.33 metres long. The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Jedi order and their Sith counterparts, both of whom can use them for close...
he used in the Star Wars trilogy and several of his other possessions. However, after a discussion with Prowse on 4 May 2007, he said that the "lightsaber" was actually a toy and not an original prop. He explained that the story printed about the break-in concentrated on the supposed "lightsaber" and not on the jewellery and other valuables taken. He further said that he was never given any of the props from the Star Wars films.
Prowse is married with three children and is a prominent supporter of Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
club.
In March 2009, Prowse revealed that he is suffering from prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
and has undergone radiation therapy
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
since the beginning of 2009 at the Royal Marsden Hospital in south London. He discovered that he had the cancer following his participation in a charity event, in aid of a prostate cancer charity, where a representative of the charity asked whether, as a man over 50, he had had a PSA test
The conversation stayed in his mind, and on a future visit to a GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
, he requested the blood test that eventually led to diagnosis. As of 2009 he is in remission.
Selected filmography
- Casino RoyaleCasino Royale (1967 film)Casino Royale is a 1967 comedy spy film originally produced by Columbia Pictures starring an ensemble cast of directors and actors. It is set as a satire of the James Bond film series and the spy genre, and is loosely based on Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel.The film stars David Niven as the...
(1967) - HammerheadHammerhead (film)Hammerhead is a 1968 British thriller film directed by David Miller and starring Vince Edwards, Judy Geeson and Diana Dors. A criminal mastermind attempts to steal NATO secrets, while an American agent is hot on his trail. It is based on the novel by James Mayo, and produced by Irwin Allen and...
(1968) - The Horror of FrankensteinThe Horror of FrankensteinThe Horror of Frankenstein is a 1970 British horror film by Hammer Film Productions that is both a semi-parody and remake of the 1957 film The Curse of Frankenstein. It was produced and directed by Jimmy Sangster, starring Ralph Bates, Kate O'Mara, Veronica Carlson and David Prowse as the monster...
(1970) - Up the Chastity BeltUp the Chastity BeltUp the Chastity Belt is a 1971 British film, a spin-off from the TV series Up Pompeii! that starred Frankie Howerd and was directed by Bob Kellett.-Synopsis:...
(1971) - Carry On HenryCarry On HenryCarry On Henry is the 21st of the Carry On series and was released in 1971. It tells a fictionalised story involving Sid James as Henry VIII, who chases after Barbara Windsor's character Bettina. James and Windsor feature alongside other regulars Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry...
(1971) - A Clockwork OrangeA Clockwork Orange (film)A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. It was written, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick...
(1971) - Vampire CircusVampire CircusVampire Circus is a 1972 British horror film directed by Robert Young for Hammer Film Productions. It stars Adrienne Corri, Thorley Walters and Anthony Higgins . The story concerns a travelling carnival whose vampiric artistes prey on the children of a 19th-century Austrian village...
(1972) - Black SnakeBlack Snake (film)Black Snake is a 1973 American film directed by Russ Meyer. It was Meyer's return to self-financed projects, following the end of his brief deal at 20th Century Fox...
(1973) - Frankenstein and the Monster from HellFrankenstein and the Monster from HellFrankenstein and the Monster From Hell is a 1974 British horror film from Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by Terence Fisher and starred Peter Cushing, Shane Briant, and David Prowse...
(1974) - CallanCallan (film)Callan is a 1974 British thriller film directed by Don Sharp and starring Edward Woodward, Eric Porter and Carl Möhner. It was based on the television series Callan.-Cast:* Edward Woodward ... David Callan* Eric Porter ... Hunter...
(1974) - JabberwockyJabberwocky (film)Jabberwocky is a 1977 British fantasy black comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam. It stars Michael Palin as a young cooper who is forced through clumsy, often slapstick misfortunes to hunt a terrible dragon after the death of his father...
(1977) - The People That Time ForgotThe People That Time Forgot (film)The People That Time Forgot is a 1977 fantasy/adventure film based on the novel The People That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was produced by Britain's Amicus Productions, all directed by Kevin Connor...
(1977) - Star Wars Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
(1977) - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
(1980) - Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Saving Star WarsSaving Star WarsSaving Star Wars is a 2004 independent film by Woodworks Films that was written and produced by Gary Wood. The title is a play on the title of the World War II movie Saving Private Ryan and Star Wars. The first preview of the film was at a film festival called Reel Competition, where it was rated...
(2004) - Perfect Woman (2006)
- The Kindness of Strangers (2010)
External links
- Dave Prowse Interview at www.sci-fi-online.com
- David Prowse Biography
- Review of Dave Prowse's MP3 CD Autobiography at www.sci-fi-online.com
- Interview with Dave Prowse at www.the-void.co.uk
- Dave Prowse Interview at www.galaxiki.org (April 2008)
- TB