Michael Culver obit

Michael Culver Dies: ‘Star Wars’ Actor Famed For Darth Vader Force-Choke Scene Was 85

 He was not on the list.

Star Wars actor Michael Culver has died aged 85.

The British actor played a small but famous role in Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back as Captain Needa, whose failure to capture the fleeing Millennium Falcon results in Darth Vader force-choking him to death aboard a Star Destroyer.

“We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client Michael Culver,” said his agency, Alliance Agents, in a statement reported by several websites. The actor passed away on February 27, Alliance Agents added. The agency noted Culver’s was “a career spanning over 50 years with notable roles in Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India, Secret Army and of course one of the most memorable death scenes in the Star Wars franchise.”

Culver had largely stopped acting in the early 2000s to concentrate on political activism, unusually becoming more outspoken as he got older. He was a major supporter of anti-Iraq War campaigner Brian Haw, who camped outside the UK’s Houses of Parliament for a decade, and acted in political theater productions in London.

His acting career began in 1961, with his numerous TV jobs including roles in The Avengers, The First Churchills, The Befrienders, The Adventures of Black Beauty, The Sweeney and The Darling Buds of May. Film appearances included roles in Goodbye Mr Chips and A Passage to India. Though his Star Wars role was by far his most well-known he would continue to work for decades after 1980s sci-fi movie and his final role, according to IMDb, was in 2016 film Servants Quarter.

“It’s been an honour to have represented Michael for for the last decade and to have taken him to some of the best Star Wars events in the UK and Europe,” added Alliance Agents.

“A real highlight was taking Michael to Celebration in Chicago in 2019. He was lost for words when he saw his queue line with nearly 200 people waiting to see him.

“We worked with Michael just three weeks ago at his last home signing with our friends at Elite Signatures.” Theatre

With Dundee Repertory Theatre 1959–1961

The Curious Savage by John Patrick Directed by Anthony Page.

In Search of Happiness by Victor Rozov Translated by Nina Froud. Directed by Anthony Page.

Fools Rush In by Kenneth Horne, Directed by Anthony Page.

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Anthony Page.

Tomorrow's Child by John Coates.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

The Cat and the Canary by John Willard, Directed by Anthony Page Designer: Chris J. Arthur.

The Critic and the Heart by Robert Bolt. Directed by Anthony Page.

See How They Run by Philip King. Directed by Anthony Page Designer: Philip King.

Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin. Directed by Anthony Page Designer: Peter Gray.

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Directed by Anthony Page Edward Furby.

Five Finger Exercise by Peter Shaffer. Directed by Anthony Page.

Roar Like a Dove by Lesley Storm. Directed by Lesley Storm.

The Blind Madonna by Neil Curnow Directed by Raymond Westwell.

Eighty in the shade by Clemence Dane. Directed by Raymond Westwell

Dear Brutus by Sir James Matthew Barrie. Performance marking the centenary year of playwright J.M. Barrie's birth. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

Any Other Business by Campbell Singer Directed by Anthony Page.

Lucky Strike by Michael Brett.

Caught Napping by Geoffrey Lumsden. Directedy Raymond Westwell.

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

Gilt and Gingerbread by Lionel Hale. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

I Have Been Here Before by J. B. Priestley. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

Murder on Arrival by George Batson. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

Sinbad the Sailor by James Grout and Ken Wynne, Directed by Raymond Westwell.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

Brothers in Law by Ted Willis and Henry Cecil. Directed by Raymond Westwell

Present Laughter by Sir Noël Coward Directed by Raymond Westwell.

The Long and the Short and the Tall by Willis Hall. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

The Manor of Northstead by William Douglas-Home. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

Love in a Mist by Kenneth Horne Directed by Mary Evans and James Ward.

Not in the Book by Arthur Watkyn. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

The Vanity Case by Jack Popplewell. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas. Directed by Raymond Westwell.

Love from a Stranger by Agatha Christie adapted by Frank Vosper. Directed by Anthony Page.

The Durable Element by Cliff Hanley. Directed by John Crockett.

Shakespeare At the Old Vic

Directed by Michael Benthall

 

The Famous History of the Life of King Henry VIII

The Tragedy of King Lear

Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (fights arranged by Bernard Hepton).

King Henry VI

Twelfth Night

The Sleeping Prince by Terence Rattigan The Stratham Hill Theatre, 1956. Directed by Anthony Knowles.

London and West End

Judith by Jean Giraudoux, adapted by Christopher Fry, Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket and Theatre Royal, Brighton, 1962. Directed by Harold Clurman.

The Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen, Translated by Michael Meyer, The New Arts Theatre Club, 1962. Directed by Terence Kilburn. Michael Culver played Ragnar Brovik. The cast included: Keith Pyott, Andrew Cruickshank, Viola Keats and Mary Miller.

Alexander in A Severed Head, Criterion Theatre, 1963, by Iris Murdoch and J. B. Priestley, Directed by Val May.

Tricycle Theatre

Gore-Booth and Sir Nicholas Lyell in Half the Picture, adapted by Richard Norton-Taylor With additional material by John McGrath; Tricycle Theatre, 1994. Directed by Nicholas Kent. This was the first play to be performed in the Palace of Westminster.

Ragnar Brovik in The Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen, Translated by Michael Meyer, The New Arts Theatre Club, 1962. Directed by Terence Kilburn.

Albert Speer in Nuremberg Transcripts edited by: Richard Norton-Taylor; Tricycle Theatre, 1996. Directed by Nicholas Kent.

Sir William Macpherson in The Colour of Justice, edited by Richard Norton-Taylor, transferred to the Lyttelton Theatre and toured the UK, 1999. Directed by Nicolas Kent assisted by Surian Fletcher-Jones, it won Best Touring Production in Theatrical Management Association Awards.

Fashion by Doug Lucie; Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, transferred from to the Tricycle Theatre 1989–1990.

Touring productions

Wickham in Pride and Prejudice from the novel by Jane Austen; toured 1966. Produced/Directed by Sheila Hancock.

Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen (Hong Kong)

Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward. (1988 – toured Norway and Sweden)

Other

Ellis Petersen in A Share in the Sun by Terence Kelly and Campbell Singer, New Theatre, Oxford and Cambridge Theatre, 1966. Directed by Harold French.

Peter Quilpe in The Cocktail Party by T. S. Eliot, Theatre Royal, Windsor, 1966. Directed by Neville Jason.

Charles in Howards End adapted by Lance Sieveking in collaboration with Richard Cottrell from the novel by E. M. Forster; toured 1967. Directed by Dacre Punt.

Mike Danbury in Anything For Baby by Talbot Rothwell and William Meyer; Wimbledon Theatre, 1969. Directed by Patrick Cargill

The Earl of Harpenden in While the Sun Shines by Terence Rattigan; Hampstead Theatre Club, 1972. Directed by Alec McCowen

Young Macduff in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, 1978. Directed by John Tydeman.

Lord Goring in An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde, at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, Berkshire, 1979 (the 1295th Production). Directed by Joan Riley

Roald Amundsen in Terra Nova by Ted Tally; Watford Palace Theatre, 1982. Directed by Michael Attenborough

Hugo in The Little Heroine by Nell Dunn; Nuffield Theatre, University of Southampton, 1988. Directed by Ian Watt-Smith.

Time and the Conways by J. B. Priestley, Royal Exchange, Manchester

Two Plays for Gaza, 2009 (Seven Jewish Children by Caryl Churchill and The Trainer by David Wilson & Anne Aylor at the Hackney Empire

Radio and voice work

The Burning Glass by Jo Anderson and Directed Andy Jordan.

"Breizh has a problem. The World Cup looms and all eyes are on FRANCE. Down on the estate, something stirs." Others in the cast: Philip Madoc and Frances Jeater. BBC Radio 4 Saturday Play 30 May 1998 repeated 20 March 1990

 

Rachmaninoff Presented by Melvyn Bragg

Michael Culver voiced Rachmaninoff. Other contributions from Vladimir Ashkenazy (speaker and piano), Jonathan Kydd (Yermakov voice over), Boris Berezovskii (piano), Shura Cherkassky (piano), Mikhail Falkov (tenor), Alexander Fedin (tenor), Joan Rodgers (soprano). With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonia Chorus.

 

Fatherland by Robert Harris. Adapted and Directed by John Dryden

Cast included Anton Lesser (Xavier March), Graham Padden (Krause), Robert Portal (Jost), Peter Ellis (Max Jarger), Thomas Copeland (Pili), Andrew Sachs, Amanda Walker, Patrick Godfrey, Michael Byrne, Ian Gelder, Angeline Ball, William Scott Masson, Stratford Johns, Eleanor Bron, Dan Fineman, Alice Arnold and Trevor Nichols, with Ned Sherrin, Jonathan Coleman and Alan Dedicoat. Goldhawk Radio production. Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 June 1997

 

Flight of the Swan by Jean MacVean. BBC Radio 4, 7 August 1982

Cast included: Rosalind Shanks and David Neal. The play deals with human love and how it is so often impossible for one person to really know another.

 

Wilderness of Mirrors Unabridged 1989 reading of the novel by Ted Allbeury

The Shadow of Mir by Nick Fisher and directed by John Dryden. First broadcast BBC Radio 4 on 8 May 1998 as the Friday Play[7]

Filmography[8]

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1963    From Russia with Love    Man in a Punt            Uncredited

1965            Thunderball      Vulcan Bomber Crewman            Uncredited

1966    You’ll Know Me by the Stars in My Eyes            Timothy Condon-Watt           

1969    The Body Stealers            Lieutenant Bailes         

Goodbye, Mr. Chips   Johnny Longbridge      

Crossplot            Jim      

1972    The Fast Kill            Jeremy Dryden

1975            Conduct Unbecoming            Lt. Richard Fothergill         

1976    Short Ends     2nd Policeman        

1977    Colour of Darkness                 

1980    The Empire Strikes Back    Capt. Needa 

1984    A Passage to India     Major McBryde         

1991    The Transmission of Roger Bacon            Roger Bacon 

2016            Servants' Quarters                   

Television

1961–1970

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1961    You Can't Win            Det. Con. Haywick            Episode: To Await Collection

1962    Maigret                        Episode: The White Hat

Studio 4                       The Victorian Chaise Longue

Silent Evidence            Reporter            Episode: Driven to the Brink

1963    Picardy Affair               

Moonstrike            Fl. Lt Glynn            Episode: Home by Four

The Plane Makers            Wally            Episode: A Good Night's Work

Suspense            Robin Gregson            Episode: The Patch Card

1965    R3            Lt. Lewis            Episode: The Critical Moment

1966    The Spies    Muir            Episode: Go Ahead, I Only Live Here

Play of the Month            Holborn            Episode: The Devil's Eggshell

1967    The Revenue Men            Foster            Episode: Man in a Wheelbarrow

Summer Playhouse            James            Episode: The Man who Understood Women

Man in a Suitcase            Danny            Episode: The Bridge

1968    ITV Playhouse            Mr. Harrison            Episode: Rogue's Gallery: The Curious Adventures of Miss Jane Rawley

The Gamblers            Jeremy Compton            Episode: The Wrecker

The Avengers            Price            Episode; Get-A-Way!

1969    The First Churchills            Charles Churchill            6 episodes, TV Mini-series

1970    ITV Playhouse            Man            Episode: The Creeper

Tales of Unease            Johnson            Episode: Calculated Nightmare

Drama Playhouse            Jerry            Episode: "The Befrienders – Drink a Toast to Dear Old Dad"

1971–1980

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1971            Elizabeth R       John Tregannon            TV mini-series

Doomwatch            Minister's PPS            Episode: No Room for Error

Persuasion            Captain Harville 3 episodes, TV mini-series

The Ten Commandments           Richard            Episode; Husband and Friend

The Guardians            Paul            Episode: I Want You to Understand Me

1972    The Persuaders!            Kurt            Episode: Nuisance Value

The Befrienders            Jerry            11 episodes

No Exit            Symons            Episode: Queen's Messenger

Villains            Glazebrook/Peter Glazebrook            3 episodes

Shirley's World            Lt Commander            Episode: The Islanders

Public Eye            Dr. Pembroke            Episode: Many a Slip

ITV Saturday Night Theatre            Tony Richards            Episode: Ted

1972–74            The Adventures of Black Beauty            Squire Armstrong (recurring role)            31 episodes

1973    Special Branch Health Inspector            Episode: Polonaise

New Scotland Yard    George Reed            Episode: Diamonds Are Forever

1974    Seven Faces of Woman            Robert Spens            Episode: Lets Marry Liz

1975    Härte 10 [de] Axel            3 episodes, TV mini-series

Whodunnit?            Victor Simmons            Episode: Evidence of Death

Thriller  Simon Burns            Episode: Nurse Will Make It Better

Within These Walls    Robin Vestey            Episode: Let the People See

Churchill's People  Earl Spencer            Episode: Mutiny

Sutherland's Law     John Melrose            Episode: A Lady of Considerable Talent

The Main Chance Roger Lockhart            Episode: We're the Bosses Now

Softly, Softly: Task Force            Paul Ashworth            Episode: Blind Alley

Space: 1999            Pete Irving            Episode: The Guardian of Piri

1976            Couples           Dennis Jenkins 3 episodes

The Duchess of Duke Street            Major Farjeon            3 episodes

Dame of Sark            Colonel Graham            TV movie

1976–77            Warship          Lt. Mannering/Commander. Cleveland            2 episodes

1977    ITV Playhouse            Carstairs            Episode: Short Back and Sides

Philby, Burgess and Maclean            Donald Maclean            TV movie

The New Avengers            Walters            Episode: Hostage

Van der Valk            James            Episode: Dead on Arrival

1978            Armchair Thriller            Dr. Walcott Brown            4 episodes: The Limbo Connection Parts 1, 2, 4 and 6

The Sweeney            Dave Leeford            Episode: Money, Money, Money

Crown Court            Dennis Broadley            Episode: Through the Bottom of a Glass Darkly Part 1

Secret Army            Major Erwin Brandt (recurring role)            22 episodes

1979    Call My Bluff                       2 episodes

1980            Heartland        Tony Erskine            Episode: Working Arrangements

Breakaway            Ernest Clifford 5 episodes: The Local Affair Parts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6

Dick Turpin            Colonel De Courcey            Episode: Blood Money

Turtle's Progress            Joseph 'Joey' Chalk            Series 2 Episode 1

Shoestring            Stephen Brook            Episode: Room with a View

Hammer House of Horror            Mark            Charlie Boy

Rain on the Roof            Malcolm         TV movie

1981–1990

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1981    The Bunker Gen. Mohnke            TV movie

Diamonds            David Kremer            8 episodes

A Fine Romance            Ben            Episode: Unlucky in Love

Second Chance            Mr Seymour            3 episodes

Fanny by Gaslight            Lord Manderstone   

1982    Minder            Soames            Episode: Poetic Justice, Innit?

ITV Playhouse            Murray            Episode: The Reunion

Squadron            Grp. Capt. James Christie 10 episodes

Foxy Lady            Nigel Cavendish            1 episode

The Professionals            Lt. Col. Peter Lawson            Lawson's Last Stand

1983    Live from Pebblemill            Duke of Wellington            Episode: The Battle of Waterloo

All for Love            John (ex-husband)            Episode: Mrs Silly

The Bounder            Reggie Thorne            Episode: Third Party

Chessgame            Nick Hannah 6 episodes

A Breath of Fresh Air            Stanhope Forbes            TV movie[9]

1985    Miss Marple: The Moving Finger            Edward Symmington            TV mini-series

1986    The Return of Sherlock Holmes Sir Reginald Musgrave            Episode: The Musgrave Ritual

Casualty            James Jarvis            Episode: Blood Brothers

1988    Hannay            Major Edmund Philipson            Episode: Death with due notice

Game, Set and Match  Dicky Cruyer  13 episodes

1989            Countdown to War            Lord Halifax  TV movie

The Justice Game   Brian Ash      2 episodes

Saracen            Sir Anthony            Episode: Ratline

Boon    Greg Simpson            Episode: Love Letters from a Dead Man

1990    TECX            Mark Frobisher            Episode: A Soldier's Death

The Green Man            Dr. Thomas Underhill            3 episodes

1991–2000

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1991    The New Zorro            Aragan            Episode: The Whistling Bandit

Shrinks Sir Hugo Dyer            1 episode

For the Greater Good   Sir Christopher St Place    2 episodes

The Darling Buds of May            Sir George Bluff-Gore    3 episodes

1992    The House of Eliott            Ralph Saroyan            7 episodes

Screen One            Mr Gervaise            Episode: Losing Track

Lovejoy            Arnold Featherstone            Episode: Members Only

The Piglet Files            Hugo Wittersham            Episode: Guerrillas in the Mist

1993            Emmerdale      Philip Wallace           

Growing Pains              Episode: "Back in Your Own Backyard"

Inspector Morse            Maugham Willowbank            Episode: The Day of the Devil

1994–98            Cadfael            Prior Robert 

1996    Half the Picture  Sir Nicholas Lyell/Gore Booth   TV movie

Neverwhere            Portico            Episode: Knightsbridge

1997    Victoria and Albert (Network First            Disraeli            TV mini-series, Episode: A Queen Alone

Touching Evil            Pathologist       2 episodes

WOW             

1999    The Colour of Justice  Sir William McPherson            TV movie

The Queen’s Nose    D. Gallows            Episode: "Harmony’s Return"

2001–2010

Year     Title            Role            Notes

2001            Anybody's Nightmare            Lord Bingham            TV movie

2003    New Tricks   Ian Lovett  1 episode

2004    Spooks            Hugo Weatherby            1 episode, uncredited

2005            Derailed          Lord Cullen   TV movie

2006    Good Girl, Bad Girl            Koslowski        TV movie

Murder City            Michael Anderson            Episode: Just Seventeen

The Impressionists            Cézanne's father            1 episode, TV mini-series

2007    The Three Dumas            3rd Marquess Davy De La Pailleterie            Documentary

2008            Wallander       Hugo Sandin            Episode: Sidetracked

2011–2024

Year     Title            Role            Notes

2013            Doctors           Father Finbar Flynn            Episode: Telling

 

Documentary

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1975    One Million Hours                Drama documentary

1981    More British than the British            Narrator          

1987            Surcouf: Diving to Disaster            Narrator           Drama documentary

1988    Affairs of the Hart            Narrator          

1990    Oceans of Wealth            Narrator          

1991    The Transmission of Roger Bacon            Roger Bacon  Drama documentary

Tradecraft            Narrator          

2015            Incontrovertible            Narrator            Documentary