Clive Revill, the actor from New Zealand known for first voicing Emperor Palpatine in “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back,” has died at 94. His daughter, Kate Revill, confirmed that he passed on March 11 at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, California, after suffering from dementia.
Born on April 18, 1930, in Wellington, New Zealand, Revill initially pursued a career in accounting before switching to acting. His acting career began in 1950 with “Twelfth Night,” which eventually took him to London, where he studied at the Old Vic Theater and participated in several Shakespearean productions.
Revill made his Broadway debut in 1952 with “Mr. Pickwick” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater, previously known as the Plymouth Theater. His skill and versatility led to two Tony Award nominations in the 1960s. He was first nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for “Irma La Douce,” followed by a nomination for Best Actor for his role as Fagin in “Oliver!”
While establishing himself on stage, Revill also pursued a screen career, appearing in the 1957 TV series “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and films like “Kaleidoscope” and “Fathom” with Raquel Welch.
Revill’s film credits include roles in “Otto Preminger’s Bunny Lake Is Missing” (1965), “Jack Smight’s Kaleidoscope” (1966), “The Legend of Hell House” (1973), “Zorro: The Gay Blade” (1981), “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993), and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” (1995). He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Billy Wilder’s “Avanti!” (1972).
Revill is perhaps best known for his 1980 role as the voice of the Emperor in “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.” As reported by the Dallas Observer, Revill recorded his famous line, “There is a great disturbance in the Force,” in just three takes. Although Ian McDiarmid’s voice replaced his in the 2004 DVD release, Revill’s contribution remains significant to the franchise.
Revill continued to engage with the Star Wars universe by voicing characters in video games such as Dodonna in “Star Wars: X-Wing” and an imperial officer in “Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter,” among others in “Star Wars: The Old Republic.” His voice acting extended to other franchises, including “The Hobbit” video game, Alfred in 1992’s “Batman: The Animated Series,” and Galeo in “Snorks.”
Apart from his work in Star Wars, Revill appeared in TV series like “Columbo,” “Hart to Hart,” “Dynasty,” “Remington Steele,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “Newhart,” “MacGyver,” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” His ability to portray diverse characters marked his career.
Revill’s personal life was intertwined with the film industry. He was married twice and had a daughter, Kate, with his second wife, producer Suzi Schor-Revill. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Kayla.
His final screen appearance was in the 2016 film “The Queen of Spain,” featuring Penélope Cruz, Cary Elwes, and Mandy Patinkin, concluding a distinguished career spanning seven decades and nearly 200 screen roles.