Jeremy Bulloch, Boba Fett in first 'Star Wars' trilogy, dies

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jeremy Bulloch, English actor who first donned a helmet, cape and jetpack to play Boba Fett in original “Star Wars” trilogy, died Thursday.

Bulloch died at a London hospital from health complications after years of living with Parkinson’s disease, his nts at Brown, Simcocks & Andrews said in a statement. He was 75.

As Mandalorian bounty hunter Boba Fett, Bulloch me off with a froze-in-carbonite Han Solo in 1980′s “ Empire Strikes Back,” n zoomed around desert of Tatooine in a jet pack in 1983′s “Return of Jedi.”

“Today we lost best bounty hunter in galaxy,” Billy Dee Williams, whose Lando Calrissian appeared in key scenes with Bulloch in films, said on Twitter.

Mark Hamill tweeted that Bulloch was “ quintessential English gentleman.”

“A fine actor, delightful company & so kind to everyone lucky eugh to meet or work with him,” Luke Skywalker actor said. “I will deeply miss him & am so grateful to have kwn him. #RIP_DearJeremy.”

Boba Fett h just a few minutes of screen time, though important ones, between two movies, and speaks just four lines of dialogue that were performed by ar actor. But Boba Fett quickly became a cult favorite and eventually would emerge as one of most beloved figures in “Star Wars” galaxy, inspiring characters and plotlines in or “Star Wars” properties, most tably “ Mandalorian” on Disney+, where Boba Fett has recently reemerged.

phemen me Bulloch a big draw on convention circuit, where he was a regular in later years.

Born in Leicester, England, Bulloch began acting in commercials as a teenr and would have more than 100 credits in a career spent mostly in British television, with small roles on shows including “Dr. Who,” “Crown Court” and “Sloggers.

He also appeared in a pair of James Bond films, 1981′s “For Your Eyes Only” and 1983′s “Octopussy.”

Bulloch also played a pair of tiny “Star Wars” roles without mask, Lieutenant Sheckil in “ Empire Strikes Back” and Captain Jeremoch Colton in “Revenge of Sith.”

Bulloch was first of four actors to have taken on role in some form. Jason Wingreen performed voice in original trilogy. Temuera Morrison, who played Boba Fett’s far Jango Fett in 2002′s “Attack of Clones,” plays an aging, ravd Boba Fett in season two of “ Mandalorian.” And Daniel Logan played Boba Fett as a boy in “Attack of Clones.”

“CONVENTIONS WONT BE SAME WITHOUT YOU MAY FORCE BE WITH YOU ALWAYS,” Logan said on Instagram along with a photo of himself and Bulloch.

When prequels were still in development in 1999, Bulloch told Associated Press he would like to return for role.

“But if he has to show his face, he would be much younger, and I would probably need a good plastic surgeon!” Bulloch said.

He would settle inste for tiny role of Captain Colton, pilot of Alderaan, and one more flight through “Star Wars” galaxy, inste.

Bulloch is survived by his wife Maureen and ir three sons.