Over the weekend, science-fiction fans were saddened by the news that Kenny Baker — the man who portrayed lovable droid R2-D2 in the first six Star Wars films — had died at the age of 81 in his native England. Although he was only 3 feet, 8 inches tall, Baker was an absolute giant of man whose friendliness, warmth, and good nature was well known throughout the entertainment industry and on the sci-fi convention circuit, of which Baker was a regular part of. (Strangely enough, the actor and Anthony Daniels, the man behind C-3PO, did not get along in real life). Although best known for his role as the faithful and feisty astromech droid, Baker also had roles in films ranging from Amadeus to Time Bandits. In a statement on the official Star Wars website, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy stated “There is no Star Wars without R2-D2, and Kenny defined who R2-D2 was and is. He will be greatly missed.” For this thousands of friends and fans the world over, this sentiment will continue to ring true.
