Clive Revill, the star known for his roles in Star Wars, Transformers and Batman, has sadly passed away at the age of 94 after a long battle with dementia. His daughter Kate confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that he died on March 11 in a care facility in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles.
Born in Wellington in 1930 to Eleanor, a homemaker and opera singer, and father Malet, a carpenter, Revill became one of New Zealand's most celebrated actors, boasting a career in stage and screen that spanned over six decades. He is best remembered for voicing the evil Emperor Palpatine in the original 1980 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and for his roles in cult classics such as the 1986 Transformers movie, Batman: The Animated Series, and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Revill's illustrious career began in the early '50s when he met legendary actor Laurence Olivier and his wife Vivien Leigh during their tour of New Zealand. The iconic couple were so impressed by Revill that they invited him to England to study drama at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol.
After several years of honing his craft, he embarked on his lengthy career in film and television.
Clive was a highly respected character actor, recognised for his unforgettable roles in globally renowned productions such as The Twilight Zone, Columbo, and Lois and Clark. His last role was in the 2016 film The Queen of Spain, alongside Penélope Cruz, after which he bowed out from the industry, reports the Mirror.
Actor David Pressman took to X to honour Clive with a touching video tribute, writing: "Just heard that my neighbor for many years when I was growing up, sadly passed away. Clive Revill. The OG Emperor Palpatine in Empire Strikes Back. He was always so lovely to me and told the best stories. Bringing this video back to when I asked him to do his iconic line. Legend."
A fan also expressed their sorrow, commenting: "Sad to read that Clive Revill has died An extraordinary career, an early Babylon 5 villain, but to me unforgettable in The New Avengers – Dead Men Are Dangerous, a great, heartbreaking episode where he superbly embodies two of the series' most distinctive recurring themes.."
