2016 has claimed yet another famous name as Kenny Baker, the actor behind beloved Star Wars droid R2-D2, has died at the age of 81.
The 3ft 8in British actor - who was best known for playing the iconic sci-fi character - passed away after a long illness, reports The Guardian.
His niece, Abigail Shield, paid tribute to her uncle. "It was expected, but it’s sad nonetheless," she said. "He had a very long and fulfilled life.
"He brought lots of happiness to people and we’ll be celebrating the fact that he was well loved throughout the world. We’re all very proud of what he achieved in his lifetime.
"When he was a child, he was told that he probably wouldn’t survive through puberty, being a little person in those times, they didn’t have a very good life expectancy. He did extremely well in his life.
"He was very ill for the last few years so we had been expecting it. He had been looked after by one of his nephews, who found him on Saturday morning."
Baker met his wife Eileen after an appearance on the Michael Parkinson TV chat show. She wrote in and said she was a little person too and wanted to meet him. "They got married soon after," Shield recalled. "Sadly she died of epilepsy about 20 years ago."
Shield added: "He had problems with his lungs and was often in a wheelchair. He was very poorly for a long time. He was asked to go out to LA for the new Star Wars premiere but he was told he was too ill to travel. Luckily he did manage to meet George Lucas again when he came to Manchester."
After performing in a circus, Baker formed a successful comedy act called the Minitones with entertainer Jack Purvis when George Lucas hired him to be the man inside R2-D2 in Star Wars in 1976.
Baker appears as R2-D2 in six of the episodic theatrical Star Wars films, and played an additional role in 1983's Return of the Jedi as Paploo, the Ewok who steals an Imperial speeder bike.
Baker's other films include The Elephant Man, Time Bandits, Willow, Flash Gordon, Amadeus and Jim Henson's Labyrinth. On television, he appeared in the British medical drama Casualty, and also had a part in the BBC production of The Chronicles of Narnia.
Baker continued his association with the character of R2-D2 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens by serving as consultant.
Following news of Baker's death, former co-stars and fellow celebrities expressed their condolences.
Luke Skywalker AKA Mark Hamill led the praise, tweeting: "A lifelong loyal friend-I loved his optimism & determination He WAS the droid I was looking for!"
Goodbye #KennyBaker A lifelong loyal friend-I loved his optimism & determination He WAS the droid I was looking for! pic.twitter.com/rd94OEYaHi
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) August 13, 2016
So sorry to hear about this. It was lovely working with Kenny. Kenny Baker, Star Wars R2-D2 actor, dies aged 81 https://t.co/9HW6f3MWZl
— Ewan McGregor (@mcgregor_ewan) August 13, 2016
So sad Kenny Baker died last night. He was R2D2 I was lucky enough to work with him for many years RIP lovely man🌹 pic.twitter.com/LUumz4M4Oz
— Linda Lusardi (@lusardiofficial) August 13, 2016
