Remembering Boba Fett Actor Jeremy Bulloch, Who Passed Away
Jeremy Bulloch, the first actor to don the Boba Fett armor in the Star Wars films, has passed away at the age of 75. On Thursday, December 17, he died in a hospital due to health complications after years of dealing with Parkinson's disease. A statement included the following:
"He had a long and happy career spanning more than 45 years. He was devoted to his wife, three sons, and 10 grandchildren and they will miss him terribly."
While Boba Fett was first introduced in an animated segment of the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special, Jeremy Bulloch wore the armor of the fan favorite bounty hunter in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. On different occasions, Bulloch recalled how, in the former, he accidentally said "Put Captain Cargo in the Solo hold" instead of "Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold." The voice was, of course, overdubbed by Jason Wingreen (who passed away December 25, 2015). Bulloch also portrayed Imperial Lieutenant Sheckil in The Empire Strikes Back and Alderaanian Captain Jeremoch Colton in Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
The popularity of Boba Fett spawned appearances from the character in many books, comics, and video games. A kid version of the character was portrayed by Daniel Logan in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, where it was revealed that Boba Fett was a clone of his bounty hunter father Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison). Logan would go on to voice the character again in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Logan and Bulloch would appear together at fan events, where people perceived them as "the Fett family." Logan responded to the news of Bulloch's passing:
"It brings me to tears to announce Jeremy Bulloch has passed away! RIP Legend. I'll never forget all you've taught me! I'll love you forever! Conventions won't be the same without you. May the Force be with you always."
Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill also threw in his own thoughts on the actor:
Jeremy Bulloch was the quintessential English gentleman. A fine actor, delightful company & so kind to everyone lucky enough to meet or work with him. I will deeply miss him & am so grateful to have known him. 💔 #RIP_DearJeremy pic.twitter.com/SMvjtQsSwZ
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 17, 2020
Lando Calrissian himself Billy Dee Williams also posted the following on Twitter:
Today we lost the best bounty hunter in the galaxy 💔RIP Jeremy Bulloch #BobaFett
— Billy Dee Williams (@realbdw) December 17, 2020
Outside of Star Wars, Jeremy Bulloch has appeared in many other films and TV shows, even making his way into Doctor Who and the James Bond film series as characters named Hal and Smithers respectively. Oddly, David Prowse, who also passed away recently, also appeared in Doctor Who and Casino Royale (the James Bond parody film from 1967). These two figured who became well known for the masked villains they played sure had wide-ranging portfolios.
The character of Boba Fett recently made a triumphant return in season 2 of The Mandalorian, where he was portrayed by Temuera Morrison, revealing that Boba Fett did canonically make it out of the sarlacc. No matter the fate of the character he portrayed, Jeremy Bulloch lives on in our hearts and will be long remembered for what he added to both the franchise and real life.
Sources: BBC
