Richard Bonehill (1948-2015)

Actor Richard Bonehill, who played many characters in the Star Wars universe, died February 4 at the age of 67.

In The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), Bonehill played snowtroopers, TIE Fighter pilots, a Tauntaun handler and various aliens including Ree-Yees, a three-eyed alien seen in the background at Jabba’s Palace in the film Return of the Jedi, and Nien Nunb (in full body suit) the Sullustan smuggler who was Lando Calrissian’s co-pilot.

Bonehill told an interviewer in 2006 that at one time his favorite character to play was a Rebel soldier “because it was the most comfortable costume to wear.” But ultimately his favorite character to play was a stormtrooper, because it was an iconic symbol of the Empire.