Star Wars actor, Dave Prowse, who played the original Darth Vader character in the movie, died on Saturday morning after a brief illness.

His agent, Thomas Bovington, confirmed his death to newsmen on Saturday night.

The 6-foot-7 tall former bodybuilder wore the iconic black suit in the first three ‘Star Wars’ from 1977 to 1983, partnering James Earl Jones’ voice to give the deathly shrills of the character.

Bowington Management described the death of Bristol-born Prowse, 85, as “heart-wrenching” and said the news brings “sadness for us and millions of fans around the world”.

Bowington added: “May the force be with him, always!

“Though famous for playing many monsters – for myself, and all who knew Dave and worked with him, he was a hero in our lives.”

Prowse was well-known in the U.K. for portraying the Green Cross Code Man — a superhero-like character used in public-service advertisements to help children get across the street safely — from 1967 through 1990. For that, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2000.

Prowse was married since 1963 to Norma Scammell and had three children.