R2-D2 Actor Kenny Baker Dies At 81

CNN reports:



Kenny Baker, the British actor who gave life to the droid R2-D2 in the “Star Wars” films, has died at the age of 81, according to his niece, Abigail Shield. Baker was being looked after by Shield’s brother, who found him Saturday morning. Shield said Baker was ill for years with a lung condition.

She also said her uncle — who was 3 feet, 8 inches tall — did not expect to “live past his teenage years because he was a ‘little person,’ so it is pretty amazing he lived this long.”

Baker died in his sleep Saturday morning, according to his nephew and caregiver Andrew Myerscough. That was Baker’s wish — to go peacefully, his nephew said. “I couldn’t ask for more.” Up until his final moments, Baker was in good spirits and was watching the Olympics on television, Myerscough said.