VIDEO: Meet Darth Vader star Dave Prowse in Sheffield
VIDEO: Press the play button to watch Graham Walker’s exclusive chat with Dave - talking all things Star Wars - during his last visit to the city in 2011.
MORE VIDEO: Sheffield Film and Comic Con preview. We chat to boss Jason Joiner and get all the top tips - CLICK HERE.
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Hide AdAUDIO: Listen to our chat with The A-Team’s Face star Dirk Benedict, who is also at the show - CLICK HERE.
For full details about this weekend’s Sheffield Film and Comic Convention visit www.sheffieldfilmandcomiccon.com
Gentle giant Dave Prowse, a 6ft 7ins former bodybuilder, now aged 79, has a larger than life story to tell. He is one of the many guest who will be signing memorabilia and posing for photos with fans.
He competed in the Mr Universe contest alongside lifelong friend Arnold Schwarzenegger and trained Christopher Reeve for his role as Superman.
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Hide AdHis huge frame got him the role as the man behind the Darth Vader mask in the first three Star Wars films, after he turned down the original offer to play Han Solo’s hairy co-pilot Chewbacca, a 200-year-old Wookiee,
Bristol born Dave’s voice was dubbed over, a shock to him until he saw the first film, by James Earl-Jones.
He went on to appear in many other films, including A Clockwork Orange, but says his greatest job was as the Green Cross Code man during the 1970s. Annual child road injuries and deaths in Great Britain were halved to 20,000 and he got the MBE.
He told The Star: “The kids knew the Green Cross Code Man was Darth Vader. It had such a beneficial effect.”
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Hide AdDave is attending the first Sheffield Film and Comic Convention both days, with his autograph and phto shoot cost £15. Photo shoot will be added for both days. Times will be confirmed at the show.
Film and TV fans can browse hundreds of stalls selling collectable movie merchandise, costumes and toys. There will be a large number of free guest talks and several paid for premium guest talks over the weekend.
Autograph hunters can also meet Buffy star Anthony Head and 1980s TV legend Dirk Benedict, from The A-Team and Battlestar Galactica, who are amongs the VIP signers. The A-Team van and Michael Knight’s Kitt car from Knight Rider, will also be making an appearance.
Doctor Who fans can have their photo with former Time Lord Paul McGann and his Tardis.
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Hide AdSylvester McCoy, the seventh Doctor, who preceded McGann, will be there with others, past and present from the cult series, currently enjoying a new Saturday night BBC TV return, including Louise Jameson, Bonnie Langford, Sophie Aldred, Mat Irvine, John Leeson, Terry Molloy, Dan Starkey and Frazer Hines, plus Eve Myles and Burn Gorman, from Doctor Who spin off TV series Torchwood.
Virginia Hey from Farscape and Mad Max 2, Craig Charles and Chris Barrie from Red Dwarf, plus Jeremy Bulloch, Ian Liston, John Morton, Jack McKenzie and Paul Blake from Star Wars are also coming, along with many other stars.
* Sheffield Film and Comic Convention will run Saturday and Sunday, August 30 and 31, 2014, early bird entry from 9am, standard entry 11am, until 6pm.
Tickets £3.30 to £16.50, including booking fees. Buy in person from the Arena Box Office, call 0114 256 5656 or buy online, where you will find latest details and any guest additions and amends, at www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk.
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Hide AdThere wil be charges for autographs and official photo shots. Full details, ticket prices and more at www.sheffieldfilmandcomiccon.com, The Star’s web site here and our entertainments and listings site at www.wow247.co.uk.
DAVE PROWSE FILMOGRAPHY
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - Darth Vader
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back - Darth Vader
The People That Time Forgot - Executioner (as Dave Prowse)
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope - Darth Vader
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell - Monster
A Clockwork Orange - Julian (Frank Alexander’s bodyguard)
The Horror of Frankenstein - The Monster (as Dave Prowse)
Casino Royale - Frankenstein’s Creature (uncredited)
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (TV series) - Bodyguard (1 episode, 1981)
Space: 1999 (TV series) - Cloud Creature (1 episode, 1976)
The Tomorrow People (TV series) - Android (4 episodes, 1973)
Doctor Who (TV series) - Minotaur (2 episodes, 1972)
For more visit his page at imdb.com.