Clive Revill, Voice of Emperor in Star Wars, dies at 94

Clive Revill death

Veteran actor and voiceover artist Clive Revill, best known for voicing Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, has passed away at the age of 94. Revill died on March 11, 2025, at a care facility in Sherman Oaks following a prolonged battle with dementia, as confirmed by his daughter, Kate Revill.

Revill’s career spanned over six decades, covering film, television, stage, and voice work. He was praised for his versatility and ability to take on diverse roles. In the mid-1960s, he portrayed police officers in Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) and Kaleidoscope(1966). He also played dual roles as a Scotsman and an Arab in Modesty Blaise, showcasing his wide acting range.

One of his most notable on-screen roles came alongside Roddy McDowall in The Legend of Hell House, where he played a physicist investigating paranormal events in a haunted mansion. However, it was his contribution to the Star Wars universe that cemented his place in pop culture history.

In 1980, director Irvin Kershner cast Revill to voice Emperor Palpatine in The Empire Strikes Back. His dialogue, exchanged with James Earl Jones’ Darth Vader, became iconic. In a 2015 interview, Revill fondly recalled fans recognizing his voice and reacting with amazement when he quoted the famous line, “There is a great disturbance in the Force.”

Despite his original performance, Revill’s voice was later replaced in the 2004 DVD release of the film by Ian McDiarmid, who portrayed the Emperor in Return of the Jediand other Star Wars entries.

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Beyond cinema, Revill was a respected stage actor. A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he graced Broadway stages in seven productions and earned Tony Award nominations for his work in Irma La Douce (1961) and Oliver! (1963).

Clive Revill leaves behind a rich legacy of theatrical and cinematic work that touched multiple generations of audiences. From Shakespearean plays to legendary sci-fi franchises, his talent and voice will be remembered by fans across the globe.