--- name: "David Prowse" canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-prowse" fi1m_id: "david-prowse" imdb_id: "nm0001190" tmdb_id: 24342 wikidata_id: "Q128379" roles: ["Actor"] born: "1 July 1935" died: "29 November 2020" reviewed_on_fi1m: 5 average_fi1m_score: 83 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-18T11:44:07.352914+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # David Prowse ## Identity David Prowse - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-prowse - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** david-prowse - **IMDb ID:** nm0001190 - **TMDB ID:** 24342 - **Wikidata ID:** Q128379 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Prowse, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q128379, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001190/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24342 Actor. Born 1 July 1935 in Bristol, England, UK. Died 29 November 2020. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 1 July 1935, Bristol, England, UK - **Died:** 29 November 2020 - **Active:** 1971–1983 - **Also known as:** David Charles Prowse - **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other - **Frequently works with:** [Carrie Fisher](https://film.one/person/carrie-fisher.md), [Gary Kurtz](https://film.one/person/gary-kurtz.md), [Harrison Ford](https://film.one/person/harrison-ford.md), [Mark Hamill](https://film.one/person/mark-hamill.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 83, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 50 (1), 1970s 83 (2), 1980s 84 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 83 to 68 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Science Fiction 4, Action 3, Adventure 3, Crime 1 - **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,914m across 4 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Prowse, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q128379, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001190/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24342 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*The Empire Strikes Back*](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md) (92), [*Star Wars*](https://film.one/film/star-wars.md) (88), [*Return of the Jedi*](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md) (75) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on David Prowse > David Prowse makes Darth Vader frightening through size and deliberate movement. His work deserves its share of the credit, alongside James Earl Jones's voice, though these films tell us little about Prowse as a speaking actor. Darth Vader's sweeping movements make good use of David Prowse's size inside the costume. He is deliberate enough to let us register the weight of the figure, and that control is the performance's chief strength. We were unnerved by him in *Star Wars* (1977), because he makes the threat of physical harm so credible. George Lucas keeps the surrounding adventure funny and clear, and its few stiff exchanges are a tolerable price. Earlier casting had already put his physique to work, as Frankenstein's Creature in *Casino Royale* (1967) and Julian, a manservant, in Stanley Kubrick's *A Clockwork Orange* (1971). Vader gave that physical acting sustained use across the original trilogy, from 1977 to 1983. It was also a divided performance: James Earl Jones supplied the dialogue, and praise for the character cannot all be assigned to the man in the suit. These films offer much stronger evidence of Prowse's skill with movement than of what he could do with a spoken line. We prefer *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), which gives him more screen time and places his menace within a richer adventure. Irvin Kershner makes the machinery frightening without letting it crowd out the people, so there is more here to worry about than what Vader might do. A few solemn lessons slow the film, but its action, humour and feeling justify the darker turn. Kershner's attention to the other characters helps Prowse: we care about the people who have to contend with this imposing figure. His long stint as the Green Cross Code Man, beginning in the mid-1970s, also challenges the idea that his size could only mean menace. There he was a reassuring presence, fronting a road safety campaign for more than a decade. It is useful evidence that he could be cast for something other than a villain or monster, even if Vader remains the substantial film role. Start with *Star Wars*, then *The Empire Strikes Back*, and give the man inside the costume his share of the attention. ## Biography David Charles Prowse was an English actor, bodybuilder and weightlifter. Born in Bristol, he became British heavyweight weightlifting champion in the 1960s before beginning an acting career that included stage work and supporting film roles. He is known for playing the physical form of Darth Vader in *Star Wars* (1977), *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980) and *Return of the Jedi* (1983). Other credits include the role of Julian in *A Clockwork Orange* (1971). He also appeared as the Green Cross Code Man in British road safety campaigns aimed at children. Prowse was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2000 for services to charity and road safety. He died in 2020. *Sources: nytimes.com, theguardian.com, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (5) ### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these - *Return of the Jedi* (1983), Fi1m 75, as Darth Vader — [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md) - *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), Fi1m 92, as Darth Vader — [page](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md) - *Star Wars* (1977), Fi1m 88, as Darth Vader (performer) — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars.md) - *A Clockwork Orange* (1971), Fi1m 78, as Julian — [page](https://film.one/film/a-clockwork-orange.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Casino Royale* (1967), Fi1m 50, as Frankenstein's Creature (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/casino-royale-1967.md) ## Complete filmography (51) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Open Mic'rs* (2006), as David Prowse - *The Story of Star Wars* (2004), as Darth Vader (archive footage) - *Comic Book: The Movie* (2004), as David Prowse - *Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook* (1991), as The Monster (archive footage) - *Crossbow* (1987), series, Actor - *Return of the Jedi* (1983), as Darth Vader — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md) - *The Rose Medallion* (1981), series, as Stanley - *The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy* (1981), as Bodyguard - *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* (1981), series, as Bodyguard - *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), as Darth Vader — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md) - *As You Like It* (1978), as Charles the Wrestler - *The BBC Television Shakespeare* (1978), series, as Charles - *The Star Wars Holiday Special* (1978), as Darth Vader - *The Making of Star Wars* (1977), as Darth Vader (uncredited) - *The People That Time Forgot* (1977), as Executioner (uncredited) - *Star Wars* (1977), as Darth Vader (performer) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars.md) - *Gulliver's Travels* (1977), as (voice) (uncredited) - *Jabberwocky* (1977), as Red Herring / Black Knight - *Space: 1999* (1975), series, as Cloud Creature - *Confessions of a Pop Performer* (1975), as Driving Instructor - *Churchill's People* (1974), series, as Hnaudifida - *Callan* (1974), as Arthur - *Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell* (1974), as Monster - *Warship* (1973), series, Actor - *Black Snake* (1973), as Jonathan Walker - *White Cargo* (1973), as Harry - *Arthur of the Britons* (1972), series, Actor - *Doctor Who: The Time Monster* (1972), as Minotaur - *Vampire Circus* (1972), as Strongman - *Up the Chastity Belt* (1972), as Sir Grumbel - *A Clockwork Orange* (1971), as Julian — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/a-clockwork-orange.md) - *Carry On Henry* (1971), as Bearded Torturer - *Up Pompeii* (1971), as Muscular Man (uncredited) - *The Horror of Frankenstein* (1970), as The Monster - *From a Bird's Eye View* (1970), series, as First Vespucci - *Ace of Wands* (1970), series, as Kal - *Codename* (1970), series, as Bodyguard - *Crossplot* (1969), as Wedding Guest - *Department S* (1969), series, as Adolfo - *Hark at Barker* (1969), series, Actor - *The Champions* (1968), series, as Weightlifter - *Hammerhead* (1968), as George - *Deadly Sweet* (1967), as Jelly-Roll's Partner (uncredited) - *Boy Meets Girl* (1967), series, as Boy - *Casino Royale* (1967), as Frankenstein's Creature (uncredited) — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/casino-royale-1967.md) - *Callan* (1967), series, Actor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/callan.md) - *Softly, Softly* (1966), series, Actor - *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Mooney - *Doctor Who* (1963), series, as Minotaur — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who.md) - *The Saint* (1962), series, as Tony - *The Beverly Hillbillies* (1962), series, Actor ## Gallery - ![David Prowse](https://film.one/media/person/102250/gallery-4b404f8a4391.jpg) David Prowse — Xanathon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/David_Prowse_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Dave Prowse & Jayce Lewis 2015](https://film.one/media/person/102250/gallery-b94759147fff.jpg) Dave Prowse & Jayce Lewis 2015 — Devfirewiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Dave_Prowse_%26_Jayce_Lewis.JPG/1280px-Dave_Prowse_%26_Jayce_Lewis.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Dave Prowse & Jayce Lewis 2015](https://film.one/media/person/102250/gallery-4a5427fb8b23.jpg) Dave Prowse & Jayce Lewis 2015 — Devfirewiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Dave_Prowse_%28cropped%29.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![David Prowse with Malcolm McDowell and Patrick McGee in the original trailer of "A Clockwork Orange" (1971).](https://film.one/media/person/102250/gallery-52909cee2d29.png) David Prowse with Malcolm McDowell and Patrick McGee in the original trailer of "A Clockwork Orange" (1971). — Stanley Kubrick, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/DavidProwseAClockworkOrange.png/1280px-DavidProwseAClockworkOrange.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![David Prowse](https://film.one/media/person/102250/gallery-04aa9d1e7eb1.jpg) David Prowse — Image via TMDB - ![David Prowse](https://film.one/media/person/102250/gallery-e92c1f922397.jpg) David Prowse — Image via TMDB - ![David Prowse](https://film.one/media/person/102250/gallery-59ec1489d44f.jpg) David Prowse — Image via TMDB - ![David Prowse (Darth Vader) with long time friend/musician Jayce Lewis. (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/102250/gallery-4029b532f070.jpg) David Prowse (Darth Vader) with long time friend/musician Jayce Lewis. (2014) — Astroscobee, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/David_Prowse_%26_Jayce_Lewis_with_Darth_Vader_helmet.jpg/1280px-David_Prowse_%26_Jayce_Lewis_with_Darth_Vader_helmet.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![That's David Prowse. (2006)](https://film.one/media/person/102250/gallery-f57547572ff9.jpg) That's David Prowse. (2006) — Joe Lillibridge from Eagan, MN, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/David_Prowse_%26_fans.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-prowse