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Tribute to Dave Prowse
It was the year 1977. Summer came and my life was pretty much the same as every other 14 year old. Knowing my love for science fiction my sister told me of this great movie that was out. STAR WARS. I went to it the next weekend and was immediately hooked. I was not so much hooked on the story, but this one particular character, Darth Vader. And here is where my story begins…
I was so impressed with this character and the actor that portrayed him I became a little obsessed with finding out all the information I could about him. I soon learned that Darth Vader was the combination of two actors, namely Dave Prowse who was the actual body and James Earl Jones who was the voice. Now I knew a little about Mr. Jones, but knew nothing of Mr. Prowse. I soon began my search for any and all information about Dave. I found very little and was a little disappointed. After a few months, however, a few stories began to come forth in the magazines. I read anything I could find about him. The English magazines were the most helpful in the area like Famous Monsters. I learned he was a body builder from England and had won several titles while doing that. He also was the official Green Cross man, a children's safety character. I soon joined his fan club and followed his every move in the next movie. I also checked out A CLOCKWORK ORANGE at the local theater midnight movie, it was the only movie that Dave had done with him as himself, no costume or mask. I came away from that movie with a sense of loss that he had never been asked to appear again as himself in any movies. He really is quite talented without a suit and mask. At the time I was a huge fan of SPACE: 1999 as well and soon began to notice something in the credits. It seemed that a great number of the "monsters" in that series were in fact Dave as well. I was impressed.
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Now as I said before Dave was a body builder. He towers above most people and was a big as Arnold in his day. Me, on the other hand, well, I was 5'4" tall in 1977 and weighed just over 100 pounds. Not that convincing a Vader I might add. Well I made up my mind that I wanted to be as muscular as Dave is, and as tall. The muscular I could work on, but the tall? Well that was gonna take something else. I convinced my father to get me a set of weights from SEARS and began to work out a little at a time. Years passed and finally 1985 I got a little taller, 6" in one year! I was as close as I would ever get to the height.
Now on to the body. I began working out seriously for years, in 1991 I was pretty big, I must admit though my drive at this time was to be big for my 10 year high school reunion, not to be a more convincing Vader. I was pretty big for the reunion and it surprised many of my old classmates, especially those that used to pick on me. I continued my devotion to working out and after a few more years had a pretty good build. Over the years my devotion to working out has only grown and I owe it all to Dave. Had he not encouraged me though his articles, fan club and interviews I would have not been likely to have the same attitude towards bodybuilding.
I met Dave Prowse in 1997, at Dragon-Con in Atlanta. He was a very nice man and took the time to enlighten me about his career and his involvement the Star Wars Trilogy. I showed him the autograph he sent me in the 70's that was ruined in a house fire I went through in 1995. Dave was very gracious and asked me for my address. He told me he thought he might just have one of the original photos from the 70's he had signed, if he did he would send it to me. A few months later it arrived with several other autographs to boot. I again met him in 1999 at Dragon-Con that year. I was in full Vader costume this time. He complimented me on the suit and asked if I could understand the heat and awkwardness of the suit, I did. We spent lots of time talking about his experiences in the suit during the filming of the Trilogy and when he donned it for the interactive game. He posed with me for some pictures. I was floored to be in costume next to the man that actually "is" Darth Vader. In 2000 I met him once again, I was assigned to escort him with the 501st Stormtrooper Legion. We had a ball, Dave was great, we did tons of pictures with him, and it was his birthday too. I truly have had nothing but a great time each and every time I get to meet Dave Prowse. He finally posed with my VaderPainter Darth Vader helmet for some photos. Watching them take these pictures was such a thrill for me. Dave truly goes out of his way for his fans. This has always been the way I see Dave with his fans, caring and involved. He has never been anything but gracious to me and the other fans I see him meeting. Dave has always make a point to talk to me when I attend conventions, he makes me feel like a good friend, not a fan. I have never seen him treat anyone with anything other that respect. It always amazes me that he will sit and take the time to tell anyone about what he is currently involved in and show pictures of his family and trips he has been on. He has always impressed me, and I have never seen him act like anything other than a true gentleman. Robert
E Bean, CMAT
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