The Man Who Brought R2-D2 to Life Is Dead

The man behind everyone's favorite droid is dead at the age of 81. The Guardian reports British actor Kenny Baker was found dead Saturday morning following a long illness. Baker played R2-D2 across six Star Wars films covering a span of 28 years, starting with A New Hope in 1977 and ending with Revenge of the Sith in 2005. The 3-foot-8-inch-tall actor, who was told he probably wouldn't live past puberty, also appeared in The Goonies, Flash Gordon, and more. "He brought lots of happiness to people, and we’ll be celebrating the fact that he was well loved throughout the world," his niece says. Lung problems had forced Baker into a wheelchair in recent years, and he was too sick to travel to Los Angeles for the premiere of The Force Awakens last year. (More obituary stories.)