Kenny Baker has died after a life long battle with an illness.

If you have ever watched any of the Star Wars series, an unusual character standing under four feet was always seen rolling around. R2-D2 was a fictional robot in Star Wars who was often mischievous and charismatic.

English actor Baker played R2-D2 in all three original Star Wars films starting his first portrayal of the robot in the 1977 Star Wars: A New Hope.

Baker’s niece Abigail Shield paid her respects to her uncle by telling The Guardian bits and pieces about her uncle’s life and challenges.

‘When he was a child, he was told that he probably wouldn’t survive through puberty, being a little person in those times, they didn’t have a very good life expectancy. He did extremely well in his life. He was very ill for the last few years so we had been expecting it. He had been looked after by one of his nephews, who found him on Saturday morning.’

Baker died of lengthy illness.

His niece also spoke on his illness and some of the issues he faced in his last days.

‘He had problems with his lungs and was often in a wheelchair. He was very poorly for a long time. He was asked to go out to LA for the new Star Wars premiere, but he was told he was too ill to travel. Luckily he did manage to meet George Lucas again when he came to Manchester.’

Baker starred in other films such as Time Bandits, The Elephant Man, and Flash Gordon. Baker also played a part in the production team for the BBC production of The Chronicles Of Narnia.

Celebrities and adoring Fans paid their respects to Baker on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Baker will be greatly missed.

As they lay him to rest, ‘May The Force Be With Him’.

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The post 81-year-old R2-D2 Actor Kenny Baker Dies appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.