English actor Kenny Baker, the 3-foot-8-inch star who got his big Hollywood break in 1977’s Star Wars, has died at 81 after battling a long illness. Baker was known for his portrayal of R2-D2, the robot who roamed the Star Wars universe with his droid companion C-3PO. The character received billing credit in the prequel trilogy since R2-D2 was mainly portrayed with CGI models and controlled props. Baker has also done consulting on various films about the character, including for The Force Awakens — which, sadly, Baker could not attend the premier of due to health problems. (He was present for the movie’s European premiere.) Baker has also appeared in other films, including Flash Gordon, Time Bandits, and Labyrinth.
