Iconic Star Wars Actor Dead At 64
The world has lost one of the most recognizable voice actors of our time as it’s been reported that Mark Dodson has passed away at 64 years old. The news was first announced by Dodson’s talent agency, Stellar Appearances, who shared a post to their social media on Sunday.
The Sad Announcement
Stellar Appearances praised the late star’s legacy, just brushing the surface on the slew of projects that he was a part of during his “four decades” in the business. A cause of death was not revealed in Stellar Appearances’ statement.
As of right now, Mark Dodson’s family hasn’t released a statement surrounding their loved one’s death but, one will likely arrive soon along with sentiments shared by his co-workers from an impressive and lengthy career in the industry. At this time, we’re sending our thoughts to the actor’s friends and loved ones.
Dodson And Star Wars
Born in 1960, Mark Dodson would have his big break at just 23 years old when he was tapped for a voice role in George Lucas’ Return of the Jedi. The actor was the performer behind Salacious Crumb, the creature with the shrill laugh who kept Jabba the Hutt entertained and sat at his right hand alongside Bib Fortuna. A great asset to Lucas and his creative team, Dodson would stick with the Star Wars franchise in future productions including Ewoks: The Battle for Endor and The Force Awakens as various Ewoks and Niima Scavenger, respectively.
Gremlins
The ‘80s were stellar years for Mark Dodson’s career as he could be heard in Joe Dante’s 1984 horror comedy fantasy flick, Gremlins as one of the eponymous critters. He was joined by other fan-favorite voice actors like Michael Winslow and Peter Cullen. Dodson returned to his post for the 1990 sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
Other Screen Roles
Outside of blockbuster franchises like Star Wars and Gremlins, Mark Dodson also lent his vocal talents to projects including Day of the Dead, Deadwood Park, Kaptara, and Headcheese: The Movie. Through projects like these, Dodson’s legacy and spirit will continue to live on.
Video Games
Like many other voice performers of the ‘80s, Dodson took full advantage of the new opportunities presented in the following decades through the video game industry. Leaning into performing as characters in titles including Ghostrunner, Ghostrunner II, Bendy and the Dark Revival, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Star Trek Online, and Heroes of Newerth, Mark Dodson fully immersed himself in a newly tappable industry which would continue to provide work for him well into recent years.
A Man For The Fans
The statement released by Stellar Appearances also noted that Mark Dodson loved going to conventions and meeting the most dedicated audiences and gamers from around the world. Given that these gatherings offer unique opportunities for audiences and players to get up close and personal with the folks behind their favorite productions, understanding Dodson’s legacy proves that he will be sorely missed by his treasured following.
