LONDON: Kenny Baker, the British actor who starred as plucky robot R2-D2 in the “Star Wars” movies, died on Saturday at the age of 81, his agent and relatives said. Baker, who measured just one metre tall (three foot, eight inches), played the resourceful droid known for his whistles and beeps in 1977’s “Star Wars” and in the five following movies. “Unfortunately he was too ill to be part of the new Star Wars films,” his niece Abigail Shield told Sky News television. “We’re all very proud of what he achieved in his lifetime.”British actor Ewan McGregor, who starred in the three Star Wars prequels, wrote on Twitter: “So sorry to hear about this. It was lovely working with Kenny.”The latest instalment of the franchise, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story“, is due out in December.

Source: New Strait Times August 14, 2016 03:00 UTC