Sad news arrives as we learn that Ken Coombs, an Imperial Officer in Return of the Jedi, has passed away. Known for roles in such films as Superman IV, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Octopussy and Batman, he was 84 and was described by his family as ‘a true English gentleman who will be sorely missed‘.
Speaking with Their Star Wars Stories, Ken described his time on Jedi.
“At the time it’s just another day and another job, but with hindsight I remember it very fondly and I’ve got quite a clear view of that day. When you are working with the same group of people on different days you make some great friends.
The humorous thing that I remember about the shoot was after lunch. I wear glasses and we had done two run-throughs where I had forgotten to take my glasses off. The officer next to me whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “You’ve got your glasses on,” and thankfully it wasn’t used in the takes.
I didn’t realise I was an Imperial Officer, actually. I was referring to myself as one of Darth Vader’s “Men in Black” and it wasn’t until I started doing conventions that I realised what my position was, ha-ha!”
