Apology accepted, Captain NeedaStar Wars fans are in mourning after the death of actor Michael Culver was announced this week.
Culver, whose death was reported by Daily Mail Online, played Captain Lorth Needa in a galaxy far, far away, appeared in a small yet memorable role in The Empire Strikes Back. Needa was in command of the Avenger, an Imperial Star Destroyer, and fought for the Empire during the Battle of Hoth. The British actor passed away late last month, his family announced, adding that he was in "one of the most memorable death scenes in the Star Wars franchise." Needa was killed by Darth Vader after the Captain failed to capture Han Solo and the rest of the Rebels aboard the Millennium Falcon.
"We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client Michael Culver," a statement from the actor's agent noted. "A career spanning over 50 years with notable roles in Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India, Secret Army and of course one of the most memorable death scenes in the Star Wars franchise. Michael largely gave up acting in the early 2000s to concentrate his efforts into his political activism. It's been an honor to have represented Michael for the last decade and to have taken him to some of the best Star Wars events in the UK and Europe."
As part of the announcement, the statement also shared a heartwarming story about when the actor attended Star Wars Celebration in Chicago in 2019. They wrote that "a real highlight was taking Michael to Celebration in Chicago in 2019," adding that the actor "was at a loss for words when he saw his queue with nearly 200 people waiting to see him." Beyond Star Wars, Culver was a prolific theater actor, and also appeared in a number of memorable projects such as From Russia With Love, Thunderball, and A Passage to India. His first two roles in James Bond movies were uncredited.
