Star Wars fans have been paying tribute to Erik Bauersfeld, the man behind the voices of iconic characters Admiral Ackbar and Bib Fortuna, who has passed away at the age of 93.
The veteran radio dramatist died at his home in Berkeley, California. He was most recently heard on screens when he reprised his role as Rebel Alliance commander Ackbar in the 2015 blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
In honor of Erik Bauersfeld, let's celebrate the wonderful #StarWars character he voiced, Admiral Ackbar 💙 pic.twitter.com/Wa9xSBTh33
— Rachel Heine (@RachelHeine) April 4, 2016
Bauersfeld first played the character in 1983's Return of the Jedi and also voiced Jabba the Hutt's henchman Bib Fortuna in the movie. At the time of Return of the Jedi's release he was not credited for his voice work.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Erik Bauersfeld he was a awesome guy! RIP my friend you are one with the force. pic.twitter.com/Yub41y6PAm
— The Collectors Hutt (@CollectorsHutt) April 4, 2016
He joined the Star Wars universe when he was working at movie studio Lucasfilm on a radio project and was offered the chance to voice Admiral Ackbar by Return of the Jedi sound designer Ben Burtt.
"He showed me the picture of Admiral Ackbar, and I did it," Bauersfeld told newspaper the San Francisco Chronicle in 2011. "I saw the face... and I knew what he must sound like." Admiral Ackbar's line "It's a trap!" is one of the most quoted from Return of the Jedi.
After completing his work on Admiral Ackbar in "just an hour", Bauersfeld was then asked to voice Bib Fortuna. "And so I did that in, I don't know, a half-hour?" he recalled.
Bauersfeld corresponded with Star Wars fans all around the world who would send him the action figures of Admiral Ackbar and Bib Fortuna to sign. He did not charge fans for autographs.
Bib Fortuna in Return of the Jedi
In his interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Bauersfeld revealed he had also tried out for the role of "that little philosopher", Yoda. He was the last person to audition for the role made famous by The Muppets puppeteer Frank Oz.
Despite his special place in Star Wars history, Bauersfeld told the paper that he had not seen Return of the Jedi since its release. "It's not that I don't like it or don't respect it," he said. "I just don't have time to be a fan and see it 10 times or 20 times."
Bauersfeld also voiced Admiral Ackbar in 1993's Star Wars: X-Wing video game. He worked with Steven Spielberg on his 2001 sci-fi film A.I. Artificial Intelligence and director Guillermo del Toro on last year's gothic chiller Crimson Peak.
Sad to hear about Erik Bauersfeld, such an incredible actor that gave us the all famous line, 'its a trap!'.. RIP buddy
— Josh Wrighton (@JoshWrighton) April 5, 2016
