Kenneth George "Kenny" Baker (August 24, 1934 – August 13, 2016)

August 13, 2016 10:39 AM

After a long illness and declining health actor Kenny Baker has passed away today. He was active in film making for over 50 years and will be best remembered for his portral of droid R2-D2 in the Star Wars series.
posted by samworm (68 comments total)

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posted by Pendragon at 10:43 AM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Cookiebastard at 10:46 AM on August 13, 2016

When I was in school I worked for a while at a restaurant where he frequently ate Sunday lunch with his family. This was the period between the original Star Wars films and the Prequels and it would have been understandable if he'd wanted a little peace from R2-D2 loving fans, but he was always cheerful about other diners' requesting autographs and photos and would happily visit other tables with stories and jokes. He seemed really nice, and never showed even the slightest hint of "entitlement".

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posted by samworm at 10:50 AM on August 13, 2016 [19 favorites]

Fidgit. :(
posted by The otter lady at 10:51 AM on August 13, 2016 [9 favorites]

Back in the day, finding out who was inside R2D2 was like finally seeing KISS with their makeup off.

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posted by rhizome at 10:56 AM on August 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

Kenny Baker laughing while Peter Mahew takes a smoke break.
posted by honestcoyote at 10:58 AM on August 13, 2016 [11 favorites]

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posted by Artw at 10:58 AM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Etrigan at 10:59 AM on August 13, 2016

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posted by jabo at 11:04 AM on August 13, 2016

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posted by entropicamericana at 11:06 AM on August 13, 2016

I never got to meet him, though I got his autograph on my r2 figurine via a family friend who is related. Was always hoping I might get the chance.

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posted by solotoro at 11:08 AM on August 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

[sad beep]
posted by slater at 11:12 AM on August 13, 2016 [9 favorites]

*long, sad whistle*
posted by EarBucket at 11:22 AM on August 13, 2016 [16 favorites]

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posted by valkane at 11:23 AM on August 13, 2016

As the Supreme Being would say, "No excuse for laying off work."

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posted by enjoymoreradio at 11:26 AM on August 13, 2016 [6 favorites]

Stay away, Jawas, he belongs to all of us. Thanks for all your great movies, Kenny!
posted by Lynsey at 11:29 AM on August 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

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posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:35 AM on August 13, 2016

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posted by ZeusHumms at 11:41 AM on August 13, 2016

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posted by detachd at 11:42 AM on August 13, 2016

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posted by jazon at 11:49 AM on August 13, 2016

(sad beep)
posted by LastOfHisKind at 12:00 PM on August 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

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posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 12:05 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Faint of Butt at 12:11 PM on August 13, 2016

RIP
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:16 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by gizzmo at 12:29 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Sphinx at 12:53 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Archer25 at 12:58 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by zedbends at 12:58 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by eclectist at 1:13 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Ickster at 1:15 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by cazoo at 1:19 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Kevin Street at 1:24 PM on August 13, 2016

Mark Hamill's tweet is very sweet.
posted by chavenet at 1:26 PM on August 13, 2016 [8 favorites]

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posted by Ranucci at 1:30 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by condour75 at 1:40 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 1:57 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:24 PM on August 13, 2016

Good journey, Kenny.

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posted by Mooski at 2:26 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by radwolf76 at 2:36 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by riverlife at 2:43 PM on August 13, 2016

Euurrrrgh *CLONK*

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posted by Pinback at 2:45 PM on August 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

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posted by Smart Dalek at 2:52 PM on August 13, 2016

My initial thought was he had died years ago.

My bad.
posted by BWA at 3:00 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by tzikeh at 3:02 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Fuzzy Monster at 3:10 PM on August 13, 2016

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I was somewhat surprised he hadn't done R2-D2 in The Force Awakens since he'd done all the infamous prequels up to 2005. (And I'm sure a droid shell today would've been much easier to operate) But I also remember him as one of the "Time Bandits", a film from the Original Trilogy Era I wished had gotten a series of sequels. I've always appreciated the work of Very Short Actors (don't like to call them dwarfs) when they are allowed to actually act, so seeing him 'un-droided' was a special treat.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:29 PM on August 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

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posted by faceplantingcheetah at 3:39 PM on August 13, 2016

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    .---.       
  .'_:___".
  |__ --==|
  [  ]  :[|    
  |__| I=[|
  / / ____| 
 |-/.____.' 
/___\ /___\  

posted by tclark at 3:48 PM on August 13, 2016 [7 favorites]

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posted by Autumn Leaf at 4:07 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by cupcakeninja at 4:12 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Token Meme at 4:21 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Melismata at 5:09 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by Thorzdad at 6:35 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by newdaddy at 8:29 PM on August 13, 2016

Beep bop diddly-beep boop beeWOWWWWWWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwww
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posted by Halloween Jack at 8:42 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by airish at 8:49 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by tobascodagama at 8:52 PM on August 13, 2016

A long life, well lived. It's sad to say goodbye but I'm happy to have his work to enjoy.
posted by h00py at 10:49 PM on August 13, 2016

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posted by dorkydancer at 11:49 PM on August 13, 2016

We've lost R2...

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posted by Flippervault at 1:34 AM on August 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

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posted by Karmeliet at 1:47 AM on August 14, 2016

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posted by Gelatin at 7:40 AM on August 14, 2016

Such devotion in a droid.


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posted by nubs at 8:02 AM on August 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

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posted by Splunge at 10:19 AM on August 14, 2016

I am going to pour out some blue milk on the curb.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:56 AM on August 14, 2016

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posted by Chrysostom at 8:46 PM on August 14, 2016

Awwwr. This is a piece of things that are important in my life that aren't around anymore. I'm glad his films survive him. R2D2's humanity was one of the truly charming things about Star Wars. (I refuse to call it Episode IV.)

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posted by hippybear at 10:47 PM on August 14, 2016

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posted by crocomancer at 4:35 AM on August 15, 2016