Kenny Baker (R2-D2) R.I.P.

[AnimeFan188]

Kenny Baker, Who Originated R2-D2 in Star Wars,
Has Died at 81:

"After battling a long unnamed illness, Kenny Baker has died, PEOPLE
can confirm.

The actor, who originated the role of R2-D2 in George Lucas' Star Wars
franchise, was just two weeks shy of his 82nd birthday when he passed
away, his family confirmed to the BBC.

His agent Johnny Mans told the BBC that the actor had been ill for a
couple of years, and had been cared for by his nephew. Mans also
confirmed to PEOPLE that the actor had passed away."

See:

http://www.people.com/article/kenny-baker-r2-d2-dead-81

[JagdPanther]

Very unfortunate. I was just watching a movie with him in it on TCM earlier... It was complete coincidence that it was on today, I think.

[Guido]

Star Wars became one of my four favorite mainstream franchises when I was a kid back in the 1980's decade.

Kenny Baker was the man inside R2-D2, and his enthusiasm was what made the little, astro-droid come to life.

He along with fellow actor, Anthony Daniels, embarked on the monumetal task at playing the same roles all throughout the first two Star Wars trilogy sets of films.

He's going to be missed by both his family and us, his fans.

My only regret is that Kenny Baker will never see completed the work to the rest of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Terrible losses to the SW original trilogy:
Peter Cushing (R.I.P. August 1994)
Sebastian Shaw (R.I.P. December 1994),
Sir Alec Guiness (R.I.P. 2000)
Jason Wingreen (R.I.P. December 2015)
Erik Bauersfield (R.I.P. April 2016)
Kenny Baker (R.I.P. August 2016)

[quigonkenny]

Don't forget Jason Wingreen (RIP December 2015) and Sebastian Shaw (RIP December 1994), the original voice of Boba Fett and the original Anakin Skywalker, respectively. The Prequels and Special Editions may have largely written them out, but the fans remember.