Kenny Baker, the man who brought R2D2 to life in six Star Wars films, has died. His official website puts his age at 81.
The British actor, who stood three feet eight inches tall, had been battling a long illness, according to The Guardian, who spoke with Baker's niece, Abigail Shield.
Shield said Baker had "problems with his lungs and was often in a wheelchair."
The former nightclub and circus performer appeared in the 1977 original movie as well as The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and the franchise's prequel trilogy.
Some people might be surprised to learn there was a human inside R2-D2, considering his dialogue amounted only to beeps and whistles.
"I worked the levers," he told the Associated Press in a 1985 interview.
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