---
name: "Kenny Baker"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kenny-baker"
fi1m_id: "kenny-baker"
imdb_id: "nm0048652"
tmdb_id: 130
wikidata_id: "Q454081"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "24 August 1934"
died: "13 August 2016"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-04T17:23:50.271590+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."
---

# Kenny Baker

## Identity

Kenny Baker

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kenny-baker
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** kenny-baker
- **IMDb ID:** nm0048652
- **TMDB ID:** 130
- **Wikidata ID:** Q454081
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Baker_(English_actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q454081, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048652/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/130

Actor. Born 24 August 1934 in Birmingham, England, UK. Died 13 August 2016.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 24 August 1934, Birmingham, England, UK
- **Died:** 13 August 2016
- **Active:** 1977–2005
- **Also known as:** Ken Baker, Kenneth George Baker
- **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:** 76, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 88 (1), 1980s 83 (7), 1990s 52 (1), 2000s 60 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 68 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 8, Science Fiction 7, Action 6, Drama 3, Family 2, Fantasy 2
- **Screen time:** 23 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $4,609m across 11 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Baker_(English_actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q454081, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048652/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/130

## 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), [*Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace*](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace.md) (52)
- **Apple TV:** [*Time Bandits*](https://film.one/film/time-bandits.md) (80)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Kenny Baker

> Kenny Baker made small movements count. Inside R2-D2, he gave machinery a comic personality; we particularly value his partnership with Anthony Daniels in *Star Wars*, where the robots are allowed to be good company.

R2-D2 can lean forwards and backwards, or wobble from side to side, and the movement reads as an answer. Kenny Baker operated the character from inside the costume, making a restricted set of gestures expressive. In George Lucas’s *Star Wars* (1977), the comedy depends on the time given to those gestures beside Anthony Daniels’s C-3PO. We laughed more than we expected because their contrasting responses were treated as the exchanges of an ordinary double act. Baker makes a robot worth spending time with, without needing to explain it.

Baker’s earlier work in cabaret and his comedy partnership with Jack Purvis, the Mini Tones, help explain that comfort beside another performer. Physical comedy had been his work before George Lucas cast him as R2-D2. Terry Gilliam’s *Time Bandits* (1981) gives him a speaking role as Fidgit, while *Return of the Jedi* (1983) adds the Ewok Paploo alongside R2-D2. Fidgit is the useful detour for anyone who wants to see him working beyond the robot costume.

We rate *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), directed by Irvin Kershner, even more highly than *Star Wars*. Its darker turn still leaves room for humour, though a few solemn lessons slow it down. *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* (1999), with Baker again playing R2-D2, is a different proposition. Lucas supplies fine action, but the stiff conversations and lengthy explanations make it hard to recommend without substantial reservations. Affection for a returning character is no reason to excuse the writing.

The later prequels increasingly used CGI and remote-controlled versions of R2-D2, leaving less room for Baker’s physical performance. We should be careful about crediting him with everything the character does. What we can value in *Star Wars* is the patience given to the double act, allowing a small movement to count as a full reply. Start there, and watch the robots as closely as the humans.

## Biography

Kenny Baker was a British actor, comedian and musician. He was born Kenneth George Baker on 24 August 1934 in Birmingham, England, and died on 13 August 2016 in Preston, Lancashire.

Baker began performing in the 1950s, working in circuses, ice shows and variety acts before being cast as R2-D2 in the original *Star Wars* trilogy (1977–1983). He reprised the role in the prequel films *Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace* (1999), *Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones* (2002) and *Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith* (2005). He also appeared in *The Elephant Man* (1980), *Time Bandits* (1981), *Amadeus* (1984), *Labyrinth* (1986) and *Willow* (1988).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (11)

- *Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith* (2005), Fi1m 67, as R2-D2 — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith.md)
- *Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones* (2002), Fi1m 54, as R2-D2 — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones.md)
- *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* (1999), Fi1m 52, as R2-D2 — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace.md)
- *Labyrinth* (1986), Fi1m 74, as Goblin Corps — [page](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md)
- *Mona Lisa* (1986), Fi1m 83, as Brighton Busker — [page](https://film.one/film/mona-lisa.md)
- *Amadeus* (1984), Fi1m 91, as Parody Commendatore — [page](https://film.one/film/amadeus.md)
- *Return of the Jedi* (1983), Fi1m 75, as R2-D2 / Paploo — [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md)
- *Time Bandits* (1981), Fi1m 80, as Fidgit — [page](https://film.one/film/time-bandits.md)
- *The Elephant Man* (1980), Fi1m 84, as Plumed Dwarf — [page](https://film.one/film/the-elephant-man.md)
- *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), Fi1m 92, as R2-D2 — [page](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md)
- *Star Wars* (1977), Fi1m 88, as R2-D2 — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars.md)

## Complete filmography (33)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Pixar Story* (2007), as R2-D2 (archive footage)
- *Manilla Envelopes* (2006), as Mr. Ice Cream Van
- *Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith* (2005), as R2-D2 — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith.md)
- *The Story of Star Wars* (2004), as R2-D2
- *Swiss Toni* (2003), series, Actor
- *Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones* (2002), as R2-D2 — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones.md)
- *24 Hour Party People* (2002), as Elephant Cleaner at Chester Zoo (uncredited)
- *Boobs in the Wood* (1999), as Bruce Foreskin
- *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* (1999), as R2-D2 — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace.md)
- *The King and I* (1999), as Captain Orton  (voice)
- *U.F.O. The Movie* (1993), as Casanova
- *The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian & The Voyage of the Dawn Treader* (1989), as Dufflepuds
- *The Chronicles of Narnia* (1988), series, as Dufflepud
- *Willow* (1988), as Nelwyn Band Member (uncredited)
- *Sleeping Beauty* (1987), as Elf
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Archie, Charles Isaac — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *Labyrinth* (1986), as Goblin Corps — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md)
- *Mona Lisa* (1986), as Brighton Busker — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/mona-lisa.md)
- *Donald Duck's 50th Birthday* (1984), as R2-D2
- *Amadeus* (1984), as Parody Commendatore — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/amadeus.md)
- *Return of the Jedi* (1983), as R2-D2 / Paploo — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md)
- *Ivanhoe* (1982), as Jester (uncredited)
- *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* (1982), as Pick Pocket
- *Time Bandits* (1981), as Fidgit — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/time-bandits.md)
- *The Elephant Man* (1980), as Plumed Dwarf — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-elephant-man.md)
- *SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), as R2-D2 (archive footage)
- *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), as R2-D2 — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md)
- *Wombling Free* (1977), as Bungo
- *The Making of Star Wars* (1977), as R2-D2 (uncredited)
- *Star Wars* (1977), as R2-D2 — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars.md)
- *Man of the World* (1962), series, as The Croat
- *The Avengers* (1961), series, as Circus Clown (uncredited) — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-avengers-1961.md)
- *Circus of Horrors* (1960), as Dwarf

## Gallery

- ![Kenny Baker at Star Wars Celebration VI (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/89020/gallery-69b5ddfde801.jpg) Kenny Baker at Star Wars Celebration VI (2012) — Gordon Tarpley from Tampa, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Kenny_Baker_at_Star_Wars_Celebration_VI_%282%29_%287868145702_%287868149480%29.jpg/1280px-Kenny_Baker_at_Star_Wars_Celebration_VI_%282%29_%287868145702_%287868149480%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kenny Baker at Star Wars Celebration VI (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/89020/gallery-966c2edd53a5.jpg) Kenny Baker at Star Wars Celebration VI (2012) — Gordon Tarpley from Tampa, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Kenny_Baker_at_Star_Wars_Celebration_VI_%283%29_%287868126198%29.jpg/1280px-Kenny_Baker_at_Star_Wars_Celebration_VI_%283%29_%287868126198%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kenny Baker at Star Wars Celebration VI (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/89020/gallery-b2526b7a2cbd.jpg) Kenny Baker at Star Wars Celebration VI (2012) — Gordon Tarpley from Tampa, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Kenny_Baker_at_Star_Wars_Celebration_VI_%283%29_%287868126198%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Kenny_Baker_at_Star_Wars_Celebration_VI_%283%29_%287868126198%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kenny Baker](https://film.one/media/person/89020/gallery-68e51e054984.jpg) Kenny Baker — Gordon Tarpley from Tampa, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Kenny_Baker_at_Star_Wars_Celebration_VI_%287868145702%29.jpg/1280px-Kenny_Baker_at_Star_Wars_Celebration_VI_%287868145702%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kenny Baker](https://film.one/media/person/89020/gallery-ffb7d0596ebd.jpg) Kenny Baker — Image via TMDB
- ![Kenny Baker](https://film.one/media/person/89020/gallery-79d3b6afdb96.jpg) Kenny Baker — Image via TMDB
- ![Kenny Baker](https://film.one/media/person/89020/gallery-33e9f1ee4c53.jpg) Kenny Baker — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/kenny-baker