Writing on Threads, actor David Pressman has posted the sad news that Clive Revill, the actor who originally voiced the Emperor in The Empire Strikes Back passed away on 11th March, age 94. New Zealand born Revill provided the voice of Emperor Palpatine over actress Marjorie Eaton’s face before the 2004 DVD release saw Ian McDiarmid replace Revill and Eaton in that classic scene.
A two-time Tony Award and one-time Golden Globe nominee, Revill moved to the UK aged 20 in 1950 and was best known to genre audiences as Sir Guy of Gisborne in the fourth season Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Qpid and Trakis in the debut season of Babylon 5, as well as numerous appearances in popular shows including Batman: The Animated Series, Magnum: PI, The Twilight Zone, Columbo and The New Avengers.
David Pressman: 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. Legend. RIP.
Our condolences go out to the Revill family, his many friends, colleagures and fans around the world.
