Clive Revill, the star of Star Wars, Transformers and Batman, has died following a lengthy battle with dementia. The iconic actor died at the age of 94 on March 11 in a care facility located in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, as confirmed by his daughter Kate to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born in Wellington in 1930 to Eleanor, a homemaker and an opera singer, and father, Malet, a carpenter, Revill became one of the most celebrated actors from his country, boasting a rich career in stage and screen that lasted 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.
The late actor's illustrious career kicked off in the early '50s when he crossed paths with legendary actor Laurence Olivier and his wife Vivien Leigh, who were on a tour of New Zealand.
The iconic duo were so taken by Revill that they extended an invitation for him to come to England to study drama at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol. He accepted their offer and after several years of honing his skills, embarked on his lengthy career in film and television.
However, life away from home wasn't easy. "I had my doubts at one point when I thought, 'I can't do it. I can't do this. I can't find it within myself,'" Revill confessed in a 2017 interview.
"I had a marvellous talk with a woman who was in charge of movement in school and she took me aside and said, 'You've got to go back to within yourself and find the truth within yourself, and if you can find that truth, never, never, never lose it because it's more than a ring on a finger. It's the absolute, innermost line within your life and your spirit.'".
Cliver 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.
Paying tribute online, actor David Pressman shared a video of Clive on Twitter (X) and wrote: "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."
One fan added: "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…"
In 1973, Clive was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his performance in the comedy film Avanti, alongside Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills.
The dynamic actor also had a successful career on stage, performing on Broadway for many years. He featured in several acclaimed productions like Oliver, Sherlock Holmes and Lolita. In the '60s, Revill received a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of the villainous Fagin in Oliver.
Clive is survived by his daughter Kate from his second marriage and granddaughter Kayla.
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