Kenny Baker, who gave life to the “Star Wars” droid R2-D2 — one of the most beloved characters in the space-opera franchise and among the most iconic robots in pop-culture history — has died at the age of 81. Kenny Baker, the actor who brought "Star Wars" character R2-D2 to life, has died at the age of 81. “The problem was we had to get someone inside it,” “Star Wars” art director Leslie Dilley, who helped design R2-D2, told The Times in 2007. “I eventually ended up with Kenny Baker, who was small with upper-body strength. “That was a washout.”Still, Baker clearly had affection for the “Star Wars” universe, attending fan conventions and maintaining his association with R2-D2 until the end of his life.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 13, 2016 19:18 UTC