And we lose yet another movie icon. Yesterday, we lost the actor to give physical life to one of cinema’s greatest villains, Darth Vader from the original Star Wars trilogy, David Prowse. Being a huge fan of that series, I had learned all of the main actors’ names, so I knew who Prowse was at the time. But it wasn’t until years later, when I started down my path of the horror genre, that I realized his connection to Hammer Films, as well as the many other things he had worked on.

But as I delved more into the works of Hammer, I discovered that Prowse played the creature in not one, but two different titles in their Frankenstein series. The first with Ralph Bates as the scientist in The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) and second with Cushing back in the role of the mad baron Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974), as well as playing the strongman / vampire familiar in Vampire Circus (1972). He made dozens of other appearances in genre titles, even appearing in a couple of Doctor Who episodes.

Prowse was a British Weightlifting Champion for several years before getting into the acting field. But the performance that he always considered one of his best roles and as he put it, the “best job I ever had”,  was that of the Green Cross Code Man, a sort of super hero in a series of public awareness about road safety for children.

No matter how we remember Prowse, no one can deny the fact that he made an impact on the Sci-F and Horror genres, and one that will continue to keep him alive for years to come. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult times. Rest in Peace, Mr. Prowse. And May the Force be with You. Always.