Kenneth Colley, the actor who is perhaps best known for his role as Admiral Piett in the original Star Wars films, has passed away at the age of 87. Colley passed peacefully at his home in Ashford, Kent, on 30 June 2025. His agent Julian Owen confirmed the news and informed that Colley had suffered repercussions from a recent fall and had subsequently caught COVID, which had progressed into pneumonia.
Colley's role as Admiral Piett made him one of the few actors in the original trilogy to appear in more than one movie. Colley first reprised his role in The Empire Strikes Back and then again in Return of the Jedi. Colley did very little promotion of, or justification for, his role as Admiral Piett during Star Wars promotional events and conventions but was received warmly by fans in general fan events and in years of conventions, where his calm and stern manner as an Imperial officer had made a lasting impression.
His performance provided dimension to a character that could have otherwise been lost in a galaxy far, far away full of grand characters. Fans frequently shared appreciation for his subtle authority and understated bravura, that made Admiral Piett a character to be reckoned with among the Empire's officers.
Outside of the STAR WARS universe, Kenneth Colley had a storied and varied acting career over the decades. He had appeared in nearly 150 movies or television shows in his lifetime. One of his better known roles outside of STAR WARS was his Jesus performance in Monty Python's Life of Brian, which certainly proved he could take on characters very different.
Colley also acted in other major films and television dramas including War and Remembrance, Firefox and Peaky Blinders, and was the voice of Admiral Piett in the animated short Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out, which introduced him to a new generation of fans.
Colley kept himself active in the craft in his later years -- he played the role of a police officer in the 2024 film Dan Hawk Psychic Detective, and appeared in a short film called I Am Tree, in 2023. These roles reflected both Colley's dedication to acting and storytelling that spanned well into his eighties.
His agent described him as a consummate professional, always prepared and considerate. Everybody said he was a talented actor, but they all remembered him as a lovely and humble man behind the scenes.
Kenneth Colley's death meant the loss of a long and distinguished career in British film and television. His work will be remembered by countless generations of audiences and film lovers, particularly his fans of the Star Wars franchise, of which being Admiral Piett may be his most memorable contribution to the canon of cinematic tradition.
Iamge Source: 3dvf.com
