Jeremy Bulloch

Jeremy Andrew Bulloch (16 February 1945 – 17 December 2020) was an English actor. During a career that spanned more than six decades, he gained recognition for originating the physical portrayal of Boba Fett in the Star Wars franchise, appearing as the character in the films The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). He returned to the franchise in a different role for 2005's Revenge of the Sith. He also appeared in numerous British television series, including Doctor Who and Robin of Sherwood.

Jeremy Bulloch
Bulloch at the 2016 East Coast Comicon
Born
Jeremy Andrew Bulloch

(1945-02-16)16 February 1945
Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England
Died17 December 2020(2020-12-17) (aged 75)
Tooting, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1958–2018
Spouse(s)
  • Sandra Ford
    (m. 1965; div. 1965)
  • Maureen Walker
    (m. 1970)
Children3, including Jamie

Early life

Bulloch was born in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, to McGregor Bulloch, an aeronautical engineer, and Aziz (called Diana) née Meade. He was the middle of three siblings, with three older half-brothers from his mother's earlier marriage.[1] He attended St Leonard's School, Blandford Forum, Dorset, and Dorset House, Littlehampton, West Sussex, before training at the Corona Academy theatre school, London.[1][2][3] From the age of five, he enjoyed acting and singing after a school show. He began acting at the age of ten and "appeared in [several] Disney films, British sitcoms and plays".[4]

Career

Early work

At the age of twelve,[1] Bulloch's first professional appearance was in a breakfast cereal commercial. After several uncredited screen appearances, Bulloch's first regular role was in the 1960 TV series Counter-Attack! and (the same year) The Chequered Flag. He went on to have a recurring role in Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School (1961) and a regular role in The Newcomers (1965–1967).[1][5] At the age of seventeen, he portrayed Hamlet on stage.

In 1962, he appeared with Cliff Richard in the musical film Summer Holiday.[1] He had a part in The Devil's Agent,[6] which also starred Christopher Lee who later portrayed Count Dooku in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. He also appeared in two Doctor Who stories, The Space Museum (1965) and The Time Warrior (1973).[5] Coincidentally, David Prowse and John Hollis, who both would later appear alongside Bulloch in The Empire Strikes Back, also appeared in a Jon Pertwee-era Doctor Who serial.[7] From 1979 to 1981, he was a regular in the ITV sitcom Agony, in which he played Rob Illingworth, one half of a gay couple.[1] His later television roles included a recurring role in Robin of Sherwood (1984–86).[1] He also had minor roles in three James Bond films, twice playing Smithers, an assistant to Q.[1][8]

Star Wars

In a career spanning over half a century, Bulloch is best known for his role in Boba Fett's costume in the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, despite the character's "minimal screen time."[9] Toby Hadoke writes that "his precise body language and smouldering presence were ... integral to the character's appeal."[1] The voice was provided by Jason Wingreen originally and in the updated versions by Temuera Morrison, to strengthen the connection with the Prequel Trilogy. Bulloch's half-brother, Robert Watts, who was working as an associate producer for Empire, was tasked with finding someone who "would fit in the costume of Boba Fett."[10] So Watts called Bulloch (who at the time was working on Agony) and encouraged him[11] to see Tiny Nicholls, the wardrobe supervisor and Bulloch had a costume fitting as Boba Fett, which "took 20 minutes to put on."[12]

Additionally, he played a minor role as an Imperial officer (later identified as Lieutenant Sheckil), who grabs Leia when she warns Luke Skywalker of Vader's trap in The Empire Strikes Back. Bulloch was initially to do the scene as Fett when he fires at Skywalker on Cloud City, but with no one available to play the part, Bulloch went to the wardrobe and got changed into the "Imperial Officer's outfit".[13] This was his only non-masked appearance in the original Star Wars films. John Morton, who portrayed the rebel pilot Dak Ralter (during the Battle of Hoth), covered Bulloch as a body double for Fett when the character confronts Vader in the Bespin hallway during Han Solo's torture.[14]

Bulloch returned as Boba Fett for the fan film mockumentary: Return of the Ewok chasing Wicket on the Death Star. He filmed his scenes for Jedi for four weeks. Bulloch was unaware of Fett's demise prior to filming and was disappointed, since he would have liked to do more with his character. Bulloch said that portraying Fett was the most uncomfortable role he played and that putting on the jetpack "was very heavy."[15]

While portraying Fett, Bulloch drew some inspiration from Clint Eastwood's the Man with No Name.[16] Both Fett and Eastwood's character in A Fistful of Dollars wear similar capes, cradle their gun, ready to shoot and move in slow motion. In an interview in 2014, Bulloch recalled when he said to an Imperial Officer (before Fett leaves Cloud City on Slave I with Solo frozen in carbonite), "Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold," when he actually said, "Put Captain Cargo in the Solo Hold."[17]

In 2004, Bulloch published a limited edition memoir, Flying Solo, which is a humorous account of his personal and professional life, interspersed with tales from the convention circuit.[18] In 2005, for the first time in 22 years, he once again made an appearance in a Star Wars film, Revenge of the Sith. This time he portrayed Captain Jeremoch Colton piloting Kenobi, Bail Organa and Yoda to Coruscant in an Alderaan Cruiser (later identified as the Sundered Heart and similar to the first vessel to appear in Star Wars).[19] Afterwards, Bulloch played a small cameo role in Star Wars fan films Order of the Sith: Vengeance and its sequel Downfall – Order of the Sith, alongside David Prowse and Michael Sheard. These fan films were made in England in support of Save the Children.

In an interview in 2013, he expressed an interest in being involved in a future Star Wars film in some way, saying, "The lovely thing is ... if I'm wearing a helmet, no one knows how old I am." He subsequently denied involvement in future projects.[20] Although Boba Fett did not appear in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, long before the film's release, Bulloch hinted that an anthology film, which will focus on the origins of Boba Fett would be made.[21]

He was featured in the 2015 documentary Elstree 1976; a behind-the-scenes film, which focuses on the lives of some actors and extras who appeared in the Star Wars original trilogy. The documentary had a premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.[22]

Other work

In 2004, Bulloch had a cameo in Mark Hamill's Comic Book: The Movie which also featured some Star Wars alumni such as David Prowse and Peter Mayhew. In 2005, he played the role of "Chairman Skellon" in a stage production of The Trial of Davros.[23] In 2006, Bulloch provided the voice of Sir Logan the Prowler in the Night Traveler multimedia adventure series produced by Lunar Moth Entertainment.[24]

In 2008, Richard LeParmentier, known for his portrayal of Admiral Motti in Star Wars, worked on Motti Now, a spoof of Apocalypse Now, featuring Bulloch and other Star Wars actors, including Kenneth Colley, Garrick Hagon and Jerome Blake.[25]

Personal life

Bulloch was married to Maureen; the couple had two sons and lived in London. Jeremy had another son from a previous marriage. His half-brother is Robert Watts, who was a producer on The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and the Indiana Jones films. Watts also had a cameo as Lieutenant Watts in Return of the Jedi.[26] His son Robbie portrayed Matthew of Wickham in four episodes of Robin of Sherwood.[27] The character is the son of Edward of Wickham portrayed by Bulloch. Another son is the translator Jamie Bulloch. His sister Sally Bulloch was a child actress before becoming an executive manager of the Athenaeum Hotel.[28]

He once considered being a sportsman but ultimately chose to go into acting. Long before portraying Fett, Bulloch trained with David Prowse at his gym in South London. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing cricket and travelling. Bulloch said that he had been a fan of Star Trek ever since the original series.[29]

Since the release of the Star Wars Special Edition trilogy, prequel trilogy and new films, he was frequently invited to science fiction conventions throughout the world,[30] and was inducted as an honorary member of the 501st Legion costuming organisation in May 2002.[31] Later, in November 2009, he actually joined the 501st as a costume-wearing member making appearances with the group as Boba Fett.[32] Beginning in 2000, he was a frequent guest at the Star Wars Weekends (held annually at Disney's Hollywood Studios).[33] In August 2018, Bulloch announced his retirement from attending conventions.[30][34]

Bulloch died from complications of Parkinson's disease on 17 December 2020 at St George's Hospital in Tooting, aged 75.[35][36][34][37]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1958A Night to RememberBoy jumping into waterUncredited[6]
1959Carry On TeacherSchoolboyUncredited[38]
The Cat Gang Bill [39]
1960A French MistressBaines[6]
Caught in the Net Bob Ketley [39]
1961Spare the RodAngell[39]
1962 The Devil's AgentJohnny Droste[6]
Play It CoolJoey[6]
1963Summer HolidayEdwin[39]
1965 The Dawn Killer Colin Hawkes [39]
1966The IdolLewis[6]
1969Las LeandrasRobert Wilson[40]
1970 HoffmanTom Mitchell[39]
The Virgin and the GypsyLeo[6]
1971Mary, Queen of ScotsAndrew[6]
1973O Lucky Man!Young Man[41]
1974Can You Keep It Up for a Week?Gil[39]
Only a Scream Away Tom Manners [39]
1976Escape from the DarkGinger[6]
1977The Spy Who Loved MeHMS Ranger Crewman[42]
The Littlest Horse Thieves Ginger [39]
1978 King Richard the Second Henry Percy [39]
1980The Empire Strikes BackBoba Fett / Sheckil[43]
1981For Your Eyes OnlySmithersUncredited[6]
1982Return of the EwokBoba FettVideo short[6]
The World Cup: A Captain's Tale Ben Tillet Whittingham [39]
1983 OctopussySmithers[44]
Return of the JediBoba Fett[43]
1993 Swing Kids Small club owner [6]
1996 Giving Tongue Auctioneer [39]
Princess in Love [39]
2003Advanced WarriorsMaxInteractive movie[45]
2004Comic Book: The MovieJeremy BullochVideo[46]
2004 Number One Longing, Number Two Regret Fett
2005Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the SithCaptain ColtonCameo[41]
2006 Order of the Sith: DownfallCommander MarucsShort[47]
Night TravelerSir Logan the ProwlerVoice[48]
2009TurpinSir GuyShort[49]
2015Elstree 1976HimselfDocumentary[50]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1960 Counter-Attack!Terry Benson7 episodes[6]
The Chequered FlagMike Brown6 episodes[6]
1961 The Arthur Askey ShowUnknownEpisode: Pilbeam the Journalist
Billy Bunter of Greyfriars SchoolBob Cherry9 episodes, recurring role[51]
1965Doctor Who: The Space MuseumTor3 episodes[8]
1965–1968The NewcomersPhillip Cooper46 episodes[6]
1972 Crown CourtDr Warner3 episodes[52]
PathfindersRonnie Thompson2 episodes
1973Doctor Who: The Time WarriorHal4 episodes[6]
1974Man About the HouseDerek Sutton1 episode;[1] S3 E7 "Three of a Kind"
1978 The ProfessionalsDenver1 episode; S1 E6 Where the Jungle Ends[53]
George and MildredBill Allbright1 episode[54]
1979–1981AgonyRob Illingworth18 episodes[55]
1981Only When I LaughGary1 episode; S3 E1 A Day in the Life Of
1983–1985Robin of SherwoodEdward of Wickham8 episodes[55]
1985Chocky's ChildrenLandis3 episodes[6]
1985Jenny's WarSchroederTV movie[6]
1987BoonInspector GowerEpisode; Fiddler Under the Roof[56]
1989After HenryGeorgeEpisode; Memory Games[6]
1989–1993CasualtyRodney Mulligan / Peter Cunningham2 episodes[53]
1992–1996The BillDr Webster / Commander Bill Huxley3 episodes[56]
1994FaithDavid ReckittTV mini-series, 4 episodes[6]
1995DangerfieldSuperintendent JacklinEpisode: Death in Custody
1999AristocratsOlder George NapierTV mini-series, 2 episodes[6]
2002SpooksRoger WelksAlso known as MI-5, Series 1, Episode 3[57]
2006–2008DoctorsJulian Marker / Victor Hendon2 episodes[1]
2008BonekickersMasked manEpisode: Follow the Gleam[54]
2009 Law & Order: UKDickieEpisode:[1] Honour Bound
StarhykeDoctor Yul Striker6 episodes[39]
2012Russell Howard's Good NewsHimself1 Episode – Mystery Guest Segment

References

  1. Toby Hadoke (20 December 2020). "Jeremy Bulloch obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. McFarlane, 2005, p. 99
  3. "Sally Bulloch". The Telegraph. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2016. After attending the Corona stage school, where her brother Jeremy was also a pupil
  4. Rinzler, J. W. (2010). The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. London. p. 132. ISBN 9780345543363.
  5. James Lomond (30 May 2014). "14 Doctor Who Actors...In Star Wars!". kasterborous.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  6. "Jeremy Bulloch". British Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  7. Cameron K McEwan (26 September 2015). "Peter Serafinowicz joins Doctor Who – more Star Wars actors you didn't know were in Doctor Who". Metro. UK: Metro Online. Retrieved 28 February 2016. Prowse popped up in a Jon Pertwee adventure, The Time Monster, whilst Bulloch also starred in Pertwee story, The Time Warrior; William Martin (15 December 2015). "20 actors from 'Star Wars' who've appeared in 'Doctor Who'". cult box.co.uk. CultBox. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  8. James Lomond (30 May 2014). "14 Doctor Who Actors ... in Star Wars!". kasterborous.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  9. Rich Goldstein (6 May 2014). "The Cult of Boba Fett: The 'Star Wars' Bounty Hunter's Spin-Off". The Daily Beast. thedailybeast.com. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  10. Sander De Lange (16 December 2014). "Star Wars, A Family Affair". starwars.com. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  11. Ryder Windham; Daniel Wallace (2011). Star Wars Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle. p. 87. ISBN 9781465403896.
  12. J. W. Rinzler (2010). The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. London: Aurum. p. 132. ISBN 9780345543363.
  13. Mike Ryan (8 October 2010). "Boba Fett on The Empire Strikes Back, That Crazy Suit, and the Star Wars Legacy". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  14. Windham, Star Wars Year by Year, p. 87
  15. "Boba Unfettered". The 11th Hour. November 1999. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  16. John "Dak" Morton (1 August 2013). "Becoming Boba: Coming to Terms with an Alter Ego". starwars.com. Retrieved 10 March 2016. The reference to Jeremy Bulloch having drawn from Clint Eastwood is absolutely correct.
  17. Jon Blistein (10 July 2014). "7 Things We Learned From Boba Fett Actor's Reddit AMA". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  18. Jeremy Bulloch (1 March 2004). Flying Solo: Tales of a Bounty Hunter. ISBN 9780954696115.
  19. Cameron K McEwan (11 April 2015). "Doctor Who actors who felt the force in Star Wars". Metro. UK: Metro News. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  20. Rich Goldstein (6 May 2014). "The Cult of Boba Fett: The "Star Wars" Bounty Hunter's Spin-Off". The Daily Beast. thedailybeast.com. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  21. Sarah Deen (18 April 2014). "Star Wars actor Jeremy Bulloch teases Boba Fett involvement in new Star Wars". Metro. UK: Metro. Retrieved 4 March 2016.; Tom Eames. "Boba Fett movie would be terrific, says original actor Jeremy Bulloch". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  22. "Star Wars behind-the-scenes film Elstree 1976 has world premiere". BBC News. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2016.; Charles Gant (10 October 2015). "Elstree 1976: Review". Screen Daily. screendaily.com. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  23. Owen Quinn (5 August 2013). "TW talks to Jeremy Bulloch, the man behind Boba Fett". thetimewarriors.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  24. "Night Traveler". nighttraveler.com. Retrieved 18 September 2015.; "Lunar Month Entertainment". lunarmoth.com. Retrieved 18 September 2015. Featured members of the Night Traveler cast include...Jeremy Bulloch
  25. Mark Newbold (17 April 2013). "Richard LeParmentier: Saluting The Admiral". starwars.com. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  26. Stuart Cummins (25 May 2011). "Iinterview: Robert Watts, Producer of STAR WARS & INDIANA JONES". whatculture.com. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  27. "Robbie Bulloch". bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  28. "Sally Bulloch". The Telegraph. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  29. Forbeck, Star Wars vs Star Trek, p. 9
  30. "Jeremy Bulloch.com". jeremybulloch.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020.
  31. "Honorary Members". 501st Legion - Vader's Fist. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  32. Regina Layug Rosero (5 August 2015). "Stormtroopers with heart? Meet the 501st Legion". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 18 September 2015. Even some of the actors from the Star Wars movies have joined the 501st Legion, like...Jeremy Bulloch who played the iconic Boba Fett
  33. Windham, Star Wars Year by Year, p.215; "Star Wars Weekends 2001". starwarsweekends.net. Retrieved 28 February 2016.; Shawn Slater (3 April 2015). "Frank Oz and Ian McDiarmid Among the Stars Announced for Star Wars Weekends 2015 at Disney's Hollywood Studios". starwars.com. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  34. "Jeremy Bulloch, Boba Fett actor in original 'Star Wars' trilogy, dies at 75". NBC News. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  35. "Star Wars' Boba Fett actor Jeremy Bulloch dies aged 75". BBC News. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  36. Sblendorio, Peter. "Jeremy Bulloch, 'Star Wars' actor who played Boba Fett, dead at 75". New York Daily News.
  37. McNary, Dave (17 December 2020). "Jeremy Bulloch, Original Boba Fett Actor in 'Star Wars' Films, Dies at 75". Variety. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  38. "Star Wars' original Boba Fett actor Jeremy Bulloch dies". sports.yahoo.com.
  39. "Jeremy Bulloch - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  40. "Las Leandras". Filmaffinity. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  41. Evry, Max. "Q&A: Jeremy Bulloch, the Man/Legend Behind Boba Fett". MTV News. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  42. "The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)". AllMovie. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  43. "Jeremy Bulloch, Boba Fett in first 'Star Wars' trilogy, dies". AP NEWS. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  44. David Parkinson. "Octopussy". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  45. Carrigan, John (2008). The other side of Harry. Chipmunkapublishing ltd. p. 260. ISBN 978-1847476807.
  46. "Jeremy Bulloch, the Original Boba Fett, Has Passed Away". ComingSoon.net. 17 December 2020.
  47. "Order of the Sith: Downfall (S) (2006)". FilmAffinity. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  48. Stryker, Jonathan (29 January 2014). "New Website for R.E. Asbury's NIGHT TRAVELER Now Online". Horror News. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  49. Robert Michael Bobb Cotter (2012). Caroline Munro, First Lady of Fantasy: A Complete Annotated Record of Film. McFarland. ISBN 9780786468829. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  50. "Star Wars behind-the-scenes film Elstree 1976 has world premiere". BBC News. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  51. Curto, Justin. "Star Wars' Original Boba Fett, Jeremy Bulloch, Is Dead at 75". Vulture. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  52. Dalton, Andrew. "Jeremy Bulloch, Boba Fett in first Star Wars trilogy, dies at 75". Washington Post. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  53. "Jeremy Bulloch, British actor who played popular character Boba Fett in Star Wars films – obituary". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  54. "Jeremy Bulloch List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  55. McNary, Dave. "Jeremy Bulloch, Original Boba Fett Actor in 'Star Wars' Films, Dies at 75". Variety. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  56. Green, Earl. "Man(dalorian) Down: R.I.P. Jeremy Bulloch". Pop Culture Retrorama. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  57. "Spooks, Series 1, Episode 3". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2016.

Bibliography

  • McFarlane, Brian. (2005). The Encyclopaedia of British Film. Methuen. 2nd edition
  • Rinser, J. W. (2010). The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
  • Windham, Ryder and Wallace, Daniel. (2011). Star Wars Year by Year Chronicle. Darling Kindersley
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