Since being introduced in the Star Wars Holiday Special, Boba Fett has been a fan-favorite character for generations. Sadly, Jeremy Bulloch, the actor who portrayed the bounty hunter in the character's live-action debut, has reportedly passed away at the age of 75.
While Star Wars fans were introduced to Fett during an animated segment of the aforementioned holiday special, general audiences first met the bounty hunter two years later in The Empire Strikes Back. The voice of the bounty hunter was ultimately provided by Jason Wingreen for the original edition of Empire, but Bulloch was the one honored with the task of donning the armor and iconic helmet on the set.
News of Bulloch's passing was announced by Imperial Signings, a fan event and autograph service affiliated with signing appearances made by the late actor. While Imperial Signings' Instagram account simply posted a photo of Bulloch in costume as Fett with a caption reading "RIP Jeremy," the company's Facebook account included a lengthy tribute to the English actor.
"It is with huge sadness I can report that we have lost Jeremy Bulloch. Jeremy was the 2nd guest I ever met and one I have met on dozens of occasions over the years," reads the Imperial Signings Facebook statement. "Jeremy was always quick to joke about me being Welsh and I shall miss him dearly. Since his retirement from shows, I have been lucky enough to do several signings at his home thanks to his amazing wife Maureen. 2020 has been an awful year and this for me is the worst news to end it. Jeremy, you were a gentleman and I will miss you so much. My thoughts are with Maureen and her family at this sad time."
Although Fett may have been Bulloch's most prominent role, he also played two separate characters in the James Bond franchise during Roger Moore's tenure as 007. In The Spy Who Loved Me, Bulloch made an appearance as a crewman of the HMS Ranger. He would later return in For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy as Smithers, a research assistant who helps demonstrate some of the new gadgets developed by Desmond Llewelyn's Q.
Excluding the unreleased mockumentary short titled Return of the Ewok, Bulloch would only portray Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. However, his contribution to the role helped the character endure for decades right up the bounty hunter's appearance in the second season of The Mandalorian, where he is portrayed by Attack of the Clones star Temuera Morrison.
Bulloch is not the only Star Wars icon to pass away this year. David Prowse, the actor behind Darth Vader's armor in the original trilogy, died at age 85 in late November.
The Star Wars saga is now available on Disney+.
Source: Imperial Signings/Instagram