Actor provided Ackbar’s voice in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Return of the Jedi”
Erik Bauersfeld, best known for giving voice to Admiral Ackbar’s iconic line in “Return of the Jedi” — “It’s a trap!” — died Sunday. He was 93.
The actor’s manager, Derek Maki, told TheWrap that Bauersfeld died of natural causes at his home in Berkeley, California.
Bauersfeld played the voice of Admiral Ackbar — who was physically performed by puppeteer Tim Rose — three times, in the films “Return of the Jedi” and “The Force Awakens,” as well as the “Star Wars” video game “X-Wing.”
Also Read: Margaret 'Maggie' Blye, 'Italian Job' Actress, Dies at 73
He also has vocal credits in “Crimson Peak” and “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.”
Aside from film work, Bauersfeld presented radio dramas from 1962 to 1991 on KPFA public radio in Berkeley as the station’s director of drama and literature.
Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2016 (Photos)
-
Vilmos Zsigmond, the Academy Award-winning cinematographer for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," died in Big Sur, California on Jan. 1 at the age of 85.
Getty Images
Craig Strickland, frontman for the country band Backroad Anthem, was found dead from hypothermia on Jan. 4. He was last seen on Dec. 27 when his boat capsized while duck hunting in Oklahoma. He was 29.
Clayton Taylor
Robert Stigwood, former manager of Cream and The Bee Gees, died in London on Jan. 4 at the age of 81. He produced the smash hit albums "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease."
Getty Images
Pat Harrington Jr. died from complications of Alzheimer's on Jan. 6. He is best known for playing superintendent Schneider on the 1970s CBS sitcom "One Day at a Time."
CBS
Sian Blake, who starred in the British soap "EastEnders" in the 1990s, was found buried in her garden with her two children on Jan. 5. Police were investigating the deaths.
Metropolitan Police
Iconic singer-songwriter and style icon David Bowie died on Jan. 10, two days after the release of his 25th album "Blackstar." He was 69 years old.
Getty Images
Alan Rickman, the British film icon known worldwide for roles in "Die Hard" and the "Harry Potter" films, died on Jan. 14 from cancer. He was 69.
Getty Images
Celine Dion’s husband and former manager, René Angélil, died on Jan. 14 following a battle with cancer. He was 73.
Getty Images
Glenn Frey, the singer, guitarist and founding member of The Eagles, died on January 18 at 67. The musician and co-writer of hits like “Hotel California” and “Take It Easy” had been struggling with intestinal issues.
Getty Images
Abe Vigoda, star of "The Godfather" and "Barney Miller," died on January 26 at 94. Vigoda earned three Emmy nominations for his performance as a police detective in "Barney Miller" and became famous beyond the screen for numerous false reports of his death. Vigoda kept taking acting jobs until 2014.
ABC
Joe Alaskey, legendary voice actor, died on February 3 at 63. Alaskey began voicing several Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, in 1989 following the death of original Looney Tunes voice actor Mel Blanc. Alaskey's performance as Daffy in the cartoon "Duck Dodgers" earned him an Emmy in 2004.
Getty Images
Paul Kantner, founding member of Jefferson Airplane, died January 28 at 74. Kantner was the only member of Jefferson Airplane to also appear on all the albums of the band's successor, Jefferson Starship.
Getty Images
Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind, and Fire, died on February 3 at age 74. Under White's leadership, Earth, Wind, and Fire won six Grammys and reached the top of the charts through songs like "Shining Star" and "In the Stone." Though a Parkinson's diagnosis ended his touring career in 1994, he remained an active part of the music industry until his death.
Verdine White
Denise Matthews, a.k.a. Vanity, died on February 15 at 57. Matthews was known as the protege of Prince and a member of Vanity 6. Matthews had long suffered from kidney failure and was being treated for abdominal illness shortly before her death.
Rolling Stone
George Gaynes, star of the "Police Academy" films, died on February 15 at 98. Gaynes played Commandant Eric Lassard, the head of the titular academy. He also had famous roles as the grumpy foster father Henry Warnimont in "Punky Brewster" and as an actor smitten with a cross-dressing Dustin Hoffman in "Tootsie."
Warner Bros.
Harper Lee, author of the literary classic "To Kill a Mockingbird," died in her sleep in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama during the early morning hours of Feb. 19. She was 89 years old.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; HarperCollins
George Kennedy died of a heart ailment on Feb. 28 at age 91. He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Cool Hand Luke" and also co-starred in "The Dirty Dozen," "Airport" and "The Naked Gun" films.
Nancy Reagan died of congestive heart failure on Mar. 6 at age 94. The actress-turned-first lady starred in films such as “Night Into Morning” (1951) and “Hellcats of the Navy” (1957), in which she appeared with her husband, eventual President Ronald Reagan, and led the “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign of the 1980s.
George Martin, the producer for the Beatles, died on Mar. 8 at age 90. The mastermind behind the Beatles' unparalleled success was affectionately known as "The Fifth Beatle."
Keith Emerson, founding member of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Mar. 11 at age 71. ELP is known as one of the most famous rock bands of the '70s, and Emerson also worked as a film composer on movies like the Sylvester Stallone thriller, "Nighthawks."
Frank Sinatra, Jr. died of a heart attack on Mar. 16 at age 72. The son of the legendary singer served as a musical director and conductor for his father, and often performed his father's greatest hits while on tour.
Rob Ford, former mayor of Toronto, died of cancer on Mar. 22 at age 46. Ford was known for a turbulent political career that included, among other things, confessing during his tenure as mayor that he smoked crack cocaine.
Malik Taylor, a.k.a. Phife Dawg, died on Mar. 23 at age 45. The rapper was the co-founder of the legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest.
Joe Garagiola, MLB announcer, died on Mar. 23 at age 90. In addition to a sportscasting career that was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, Garagiola also was known as a panelist on NBC's "Today" show and a guest host on "The Tonight Show."
Ken Howard, president of SAG-AFTRA, died on Mar. 23 at age 71. Howard was responsible for restoring stability to the Screen Actors Guild in 2008 and merging it with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists four years later.
Stand-up comedian Garry Shandling died of a heart attack on Mar. 24 at age 66. Shandling's subversive brand of TV comedy paved the way for future hits like "Seinfeld" and "The Sarah Silverman Program."
A look back at the stars of movies, TV, media and music we lost this year