Kenneth Colley Dead at 87: Star Wars’ Admiral Piett Bows Out Peacefully
Spare me the tearful tributes: Kenneth Colley, the veteran British actor who spent decades barking orders down the corridor of Darth Vader’s flagship, has kicked off this mortal coil at 87. According to his longtime agent Julian Owen (via TMZ), Colley slipped on a step, broke an arm, and was admitted to a Kent hospital—only to pick up COVID-19 and develop pneumonia before returning home to Ashford. Friends were at his side when he passed away Monday, marking the final fadeout for one of the Empire’s most composed admirals.
Colley’s claim to intergalactic fame came in 1980, when he first suited up as Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back, reprising the role in Return of the Jedi two years later. Fans who thought he’d be lost to the vacuum of space got a reprieve in 2012’s Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out, where his instantly recognizable drawl gave new life to Piett’s clipped “Yes, my lord.” Variety confirms Colley was a welcome fixture at conventions from London to Los Angeles, hobnobbing with lightsaber-wielding devotees who treated him like the real deal.
Beyond the black uniform, Colley’s 60-year résumé reads like a cinephile’s dream. He played Jesus in Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) before landing roles in several kaleidoscopic Ken Russell films and Clint Eastwood’s Cold War thriller Firefox. Off-camera, Owen says, Colley tended an immaculate garden, collected offbeat art, and loved the thrill of fast cars—proof he wasn’t just a “Galactic” one-trick pony.
Despite his serene exit, Colley’s final chapter wasn’t entirely without drama. The actor contracted COVID-19 at a time when hospitals were bracing for another wave—hardly the backdrop you’d script for a beloved franchise ambassador. Still, Owen insists Colley died peacefully, surrounded by friends, in the home he loved. TMZ’s timeline and the agent’s quote line up perfectly; no need for clickbait.
Whether you remember him shouting “Yes, Admiral,” or chuckling at Brian’s antics, Colley’s legacy is as sturdy as a Mon Calamari cruiser. He leaves behind decades of genre-defining work and an army of fans who’ll forever salute that crisp metal cap. And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ.com, Variety.com
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
