News David Prowse, the original Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars,’ dies at 85 November 29, 2020November 29, 2020 Staff and wire reports, USA TODAY Comments Off on David Prowse, the original Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars,’ dies at 85 David Prowse, the weightlifter-turned-actor who was the body, though not the voice, of Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, has died.