Standing at 6 ft 6 in, David Charles Prowse transitioned from a championship-winning weightlifter in Bristol to an imposing presence on the British screen. While he became a household name across the United Kingdom as the road safety mascot Green Cross Man, his physical stature later secured him the role of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy.
Strength Athletics and Training
Born in 1935, Prowse developed a career in weightlifting and bodybuilding, winning the British heavyweight championship in 1962. He represented England at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth. Demonstrating significant physical power, he became the first person to lift the Dinnie Stones in 1963. Beyond his own competitions, he opened the Dave Prowse Fitness Centre in Southwark and provided training for actors including Christopher Reeve and Cary Elwes.
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Prowse began his screen career in 1968, appearing in The Champions and an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies. He played Julian, a manservant in Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film A Clockwork Orange, and appeared in various genre productions such as the Doctor Who serial The Time Monster and the film Jabberwocky. Between 1971 and 1990, he starred as the Green Cross Man, a role that earned him the Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2000.
The Darth Vader Role
Prowse provided the physical performance for Darth Vader in the original Star Wars films. Although he spoke the dialogue during production, the final voice was provided by James Earl Jones. Tensions later emerged regarding his lack of screen presence in the final mask-removal scene of Return of the Jedi. In 2015, he featured in the documentaries The Force's Mouth and I Am Your Father, which explored his experiences and subsequent fallout with Lucasfilm.
Fast facts
- Born: 1935, Bristol
- Died: 2020, London
- Height: 6 ft 6 in
- Weight: 283 lbs
- Awards: Member of the Order of the British Empire
- Education: Bristol Grammar School
Questions readers ask
Did David Prowse voice Darth Vader?
He spoke the dialogue during filming, but George Lucas replaced his voice with that of James Earl Jones for the final release.
Why was he awarded an MBE?
He received the honour in 2000 for his work as the Green Cross Man, promoting road safety to children between 1971 and 1990.
