David Prowse (Actor) Wiki, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Cause of Death, Height, Family, Wife (Norma Prowse)

David Prowse Biography – David Prowse Wiki

David Prowse (born David Charles Prowse) was an English bodybuilder, weightlifter, and character actor in British film and television. He was best known for physically portraying Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, with the character’s voice being performed by James Earl Jones. He was asked to audition for the roles of Darth Vader and Chewbacca after “Star Wars” director George Lucas saw him in “A Clockwork Orange”. In an interview with NPR in 2008, Prowse explained he chose Vader over Chewbacca saying “Well if you think back on all the movies that you’ve ever seen where there are goodies and baddies … you always remember the baddie.”

He made his film debut in the James Bond spoof Casino Royale (1967) playing Frankenstein’s Creature, a part he was asked to play again in two films from the iconic Hammer film series, The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) and Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell (1974).

Prowse was best known in the U.K. for portraying the Green Cross Code Man – a superhero-like character used in public-service advertisements to help children get across the street safely – from 1967 through 1990. For that role, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2000.

He also had roles in “The Saint,” “Doctor Who,” “The Beverly Hillbillies” and went on to star as “The Mighty Tonka” in a toy commercial directed by Ridley Scott. His last credited role was as professor Henry Wales in the series Mission Backup Earth. He appeared at multiple conventions and signings before retiring in December 2017.

Prior to his work in film, Prowse was a champion bodybuilder and fitness consultant. He was crowned the British heavyweight weightlifting championship in 1962, 1963, and 1964. He owned three gyms in London and trained Christopher Reeve for his role as Superman. He became good friends with fellow competitors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno in his weightlifting years.

David Prowse Age

David Prowse was born as David Charles Prowse on 1 July 1935, in Bristol, England. He died on 28 November 2020. He was 85.

David Prowse Wife

David Prowse had been married to his wife Norma Prowse (born Norma E. Scammell) from 1963 until his death in 2020.

David Prowse Family

David Prowse and his wife Norma Prowse have three children.

David Prowse Death

David Prowse died on 28 November 2020, at the age of 85, after a short illness, according to his agent Thomas Bowington. His management company Bowington Management confirmed that the actor died following a short illness on Twitter. Bowington Management tweeted: “It’s with great regret and heart-wrenching sadness for us and million of fans around the world, to announce that our client DAVE PROWSE M.B.E. has passed away at the age of 85.”

It’s with great regret and heart-wrenching sadness for us and million of fans around the world, to announce that our client DAVE PROWSE M.B.E. has passed away at the age of 85. #DaveProwse @starwars #DarthVader #GreenCrossCodeMan #iconic #actor #bodybuilder #MBE pic.twitter.com/dL2RmdIqg8

— Bowington Management (@BowingtonM) November 29, 2020

Mark Hamill, who portrayed Darth Vader’s son, Luke Skywalker, paid tribute to Prowse on Twitter. Hamill wrote: “So sad to hear David Prowse has passed. He was a kind man & much more than Darth Vader. Actor-Husband-Father-Member of the Order of the British Empire-3 time British Weightlifting Champion & Safety Icon the Green Cross Code Man. He loved his fans as much as they loved him. #RIP.”

His agent, Thomas Bowington, said in a statement to Primal Information: “May the force be with him, always! Though famous for playing many monsters — for myself, and all who knew Dave and worked with him, he was a hero in our lives.”

David Prowse Cause of Death

David Prowse’s cause of death was complications from Covid-19, according to his daughter Rachel Prowse. Rachel told The Sun that her father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, had been hospitalized for the last two weeks with Covid. Confirming David Prowse’s cause of death, she said, “It’s horrible that Covid restrictions meant we did not get to see him and say goodbye. But when we went to collect his stuff from the hospital the nurse said what a cool guy he was. He was such a larger-than-life character. He would have loved to see himself trending on Twitter.” In 2018, CNN reported that Prowse was being treated for prostate cancer.

David Prowse Net Worth

David Prowse’s net worth was estimated to be $3 million.

David Prowse Height

David Prowse was 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall.