Original Boba Fett Star Jeremy Bulloch Dies at 75

Jeremy Bulloch, the original star to portray Boba Fett, has passed away at the age of 75. He portrayed the physical role of Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. 

Bulloch was born in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England. At a young age, he began acting. At the age of 12, he began by appearing in commercials but then eventually he would appear on television, the stage, and film. During the 70s and 80s, he appeared on classic TV shows like Doctor Who and Robin of Sherwood. In the movie realm, he also appeared in three James Bond movies, among other films he had supporting roles in. Through the course of his career, he garnered 109 screen credits of different kinds. Eventually, he got a call from his half-brother, Robert Watts, about appearing in The Empire Strikes Back. 

“I’d never managed to give Jeremy a job on film,” recalled Watts in 2008. “So I rang him up and said, ‘If the suit fits, the part’s yours.’ He came in and it fit.”

Try the suit on Bulloch did and it did indeed fit. Bulloch knew exactly what the character of Boba Fett would need for the screen. “I thought of Boba Fett as Clint Eastwood in a suit of armor,” Bulloch said once. This gave the performance a very western inspiration. Sound designer Ben Burtt even added the sound of spurs when Fett walked.

“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,” says Lucas. “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.”

Bulloch did show his face occasionally in Star Wars. He appeared as an Imperial officer escorting Princess Leia through the cloud city (with Boba Fett, also played by Bulloch, right behind). He also had a cameo as Captain Colton on the Tantive III in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Off-screen, Bulloch would show up frequently at Star Wars Celebration over the last couple of decades. He was loved by Star Wars fans.