Michael Culver, veteran British actor who played one of Darth Vader’s most infamous victims in “The Empire Strikes Back,” has died at the age of 85, according to media reports.
In the famed 1980 “Star Wars” sequel, Culver played Captain Needa, an Imperial officer who pursues Han Solo in the Millennium Falcon as the Rebel Alliance escapes from their secret base on Hoth.
When the Falcon escapes his clutches, Needa accepts full responsibility and goes to apologize to Darth Vader, only to be choked to death with Vader’s Sith powers. “Apology accepted, Captain Needa,” Vader says as the officer’s body is dragged away.
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