It's with the great sadness that we share word on the passing of another member of the Star Wars family.
Jeremy Bulloch, the original actor to play Boba Fett, passed away today at the age of 75.
Bulloch physically portrayed Fett in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi , bringing to life an iconic bounty hunter whose popularity only continues to surge. The actor also had small roles as an Imperial officer in Empire and as the Alderaanian pilot Captain Colton in Revenge of the Sith .
A beloved member of the fan community, Bulloch made countless appearances at conventions spanning decades, including numerous panels and signings during Star Wars Celebration and at Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World. Bulloch also performed the role of Boba Fett in numerous fan films and was widely accessible for podcasts and interviews.
The Maker himself, George Lucas, issued a statement commemorating the actor:
“Jeremy brought the perfect combination of mystery and menace to his performance of Boba Fett, which is just what I wanted the character to convey. In addition, Jeremy was a true gentleman who was very supportive of Star Wars and its fans, and I’m very grateful for his contributions to the saga and its legacy.”
Several members of the franchise have taken to Twitter to express their condolences as well.
Mark Hamill, who found himself in a shootout with Bulloch's Fett as Luke Skywalker:
Jeremy Bulloch was the quintessential English gentleman. A fine actor, delightful company & so kind to everyone lucky enough to meet or work with him. I will deeply miss him & am so grateful to have known him. 💔 #RIP_DearJeremy pic.twitter.com/SMvjtQsSwZ
Billy Dee Williams, who shared several scenes with Bulloch as Lando Calrissian:
Today we lost the best bounty hunter in the galaxy 💔RIP Jeremy Bulloch #BobaFett
Ming-Na Wen, who's Fennec Shand lives on thanks to skills of the character Bulloch originally brought to life:
Oh, my heart! 💔 RIP, #jeremybulloch. The original #BobaFett. 🥲 #toomanyfeels#starwars #EmpireStrikesBack #returnofthejedi https://t.co/ZKqwKZMI8p
Greg Grunberg, the Snap Wexley performer who has carried on Bulloch's legacy as a great ambassador for Star Wars:
RIP #jeremybulloch #StarWars original #BobaFett https://t.co/aN3WmiN2Jg
The Star Wars account's official statement:
Jeremy Bulloch, whose unforgettable performance as notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett has captivated audiences since he first appeared in 1980's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, has sadly passed away. pic.twitter.com/Wekhv3rxqN
This is another sad day for the Star Wars fandom.
Jeremy Bulloch was so kind and generous with each and every fan he encountered, and his efforts on-screen have inspired several generations of kids to be as cool as Boba Fett. Through Star Wars, Bulloch's work will live on forever, and he will be missed but never forgotten.
The Force will be with him. Always.
