Kenny Baker | Entertainment News, Photos, and Videos

Kenny Baker, the Star Wars actor behind the beloved R2-D2, has sadly passed away at the age of 83.

The 3’8″ tall actor died on Saturday (August 13) after battling a long illness that affected his lungs and often left him wheelchair bound.

Kenny first portrayed R2-D2 in 1977 the original Star Wars film and returned for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, as well as the three Star Wars prequels.

Despite being ill, Kenny returned for The Force Awakens as a consultant but was unable to make it to the LA premiere. He was fortunately able to celebrate the film at it’s premiere in London.

“It was expected, but it’s sad nonetheless. He had a very long and fulfilled life. He brought lots of happiness to people and we’ll be celebrating the fact that he was well loved throughout the world. We’re all very proud of what he achieved in his lifetime,” Kenny‘s niece Abigail Shield told The Guardian.

Our thoughts are with Kenny‘s family and friends during this difficult time.

The time has come and the trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens has officially arrived!

We got a big surprise when it was announced that the trailer would be playing in select theaters over Thanskgiving weekend and then director JJ Abrams confirmed it would also be released online.

The seventh episode in the Star Wars series stars John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, Gwendoline Christie, Domhnall Gleeson, Pip Anderson, and Max von Sydow alongside returning cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker.

In the trailer, we get glimpses of John, Daisy, Oscar, and a bunch of cool gadgets and flying ships!

The casting for Star Wars: Episode VII has just been revealed and we are so excited!

In a press release from the official site, the cast was revealed to be Attack the Block‘s John Boyega, Blue Season‘s Daisy Ridley, Girls‘ Adam Driver, Inside Llewyn Davis‘ Oscar Isaac, Rise of the Planet of the Apes‘ Andy Serkis, About Time‘s Domhnall Gleeson, and Shutter Island‘s Max von Sydow, who will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels (C3P0), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and Kenny Baker (R2D2) in the new film.

“We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.” director J.J. Abrams said in a statement.

WHAT DO YOU THINK of the Star Wars cast???