Film, TV and Show.
Over 50 years in Showbiz.

Quick Biography

I was born in Birmingham in the UK on the 24th August, 1934. The Shaftesbury Society in London helped me overcome my height difficulties; they are a Christian group which cares for young people with disabilities.

I started performing in 1950 at the age of 16 when I joined the Burton Lester's Midgets as a performer. Shortly after I became a DJ with Mecca Organization before joining Billy Smart's Circus as a clown and shadow Ringmaster. Later in my career I toured the country for 9 years doing panto and ice shows, where I met the queen. After leaving the ice, I formed a musical comedy act: The Mini Tones.

My friend Jack Purvis and I later became nightclub performers. Jack would also go on to star in Star Wars. The role of robot R2D2, for which I seem most recognisable, came in the 1977 film Star Wars. I would go on to perform in all 6 Star Wars films as well as documentaries relating to them.

In 1978, as R2-D2, I put my footprints into concrete outside Graumann's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, Hollywood.

The Business of Show

I have worked with many comedians including Dickie Henderson, Leslie Crowther, Ken Dodd (as a Diddyman), Little and Large, Russ Abbot, Ben Elton, Dick Emery and Dave Allen. I have also been on 3,2,1 and Opportunity Knocks and even met Laurel and Hardy.

Film, TV and Show appearances as Characters

Casualty .... Archie / ... (2 episodes, 1992-2007)
- The Miracle on Harry's Last Shift (2007) TV episode .... Charles Isaac
- Act of Faith (1992) TV episode .... Archie
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).... R2-D2
... aka Revenge of the Sith (USA: short title)
... aka Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith (USA: DVD box title)
... aka Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (USA: promotional title)
Swiss Toni .... Guyler (1 episode, 2003)
- Cars Don't Make You Fat (2003) TV episode .... Guyler
The Cage (2002/I).... Merlin
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002).... R2-D2
... aka Attack of the Clones (USA: short title)
... aka Attack of the Clones: The IMAX Experience (USA: IMAX version (promotional title))
... aka Star Wars II (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones (USA: video box title)
24 Hour Party People (2002).... Zookeeper
... aka Twenty Four Hour Party People (UK: DVD title)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).... R2-D2
... aka Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (USA: video box title)
... aka The Phantom Menace (USA: short title)
Boobs in the Wood (1999) (V).... Bruce Foreskin
U.F.O. (1993).... Casanova
Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1989) (TV).... Dufflepud
... aka Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
... aka Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Willow (1988) (uncredited) .... Nelwyn band member
Muppet Babies .... R2-D2 (1 episode, 1987)
... aka Jim Henson's Muppet Babies (USA: complete title)
... aka Muppets, Babies and Monsters (USA: second season title)
- Adventures in Muppet-Sitting (1987) TV episode .... R2-D2
Sleeping Beauty (1987).... Elf
... aka Cannon Movie Tales: Sleeping Beauty (USA: series title)
... aka Sleeping Beauty: A Cannon Film (USA: closing credits title)
Star Tours (1987) (uncredited) .... R2-D2
Labyrinth (1986).... Goblin Corps
Mona Lisa (1986).... Brighton Busker
Amadeus (1984).... Parody Commendatore
... aka Amadeus: The Director's Cut (USA: director's cut)
... aka Peter Shaffer's Amadeus (USA: complete title)
... aka Peter Shaffer's Amadeus: Director's Cut (USA: director's cut)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).... R2-D2 / Paploo
... aka Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (USA: video box title)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982) (TV).... Pick Pocket
... aka Hunchback
The Goodies .... Dwarf (1 episode, 1981)
- Special: Snow White 2 (1981) TV episode .... Dwarf
Time Bandits (1981).... Fidgit
Flash Gordon (1980).... Dwarf
The Elephant Man (1980).... Plumed Dwarf
The Adventure Game (1980) TV series.... The Rangdo
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980).... R2-D2
... aka Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (USA: video box title)
... aka The Empire Strikes Back (USA: short title)
The Muppet Show .... R2-D2 (1 episode, 1980)
- Mark Hamill/Star Wars (1980) TV episode .... R2-D2
Play for Today (1 episode, 1978)
- A Touch of the Tiny Hacketts (1978) TV episode
Star Wars (1977).... R2-D2
... aka Guerra de las estrellas, La (USA: Spanish title)
... aka Star Wars IV: A New Hope (USA: video box title)
... aka Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Wombling Free (1977).... Bungo
... aka Wombling Free: The Movie (UK: video title)
Circus of Horrors (1960) (uncredited) .... Dwarf
... aka Phantom of the Circus

Star Wars Trivia. Did you know?

R2-D2 was named when a technician from "American Graffiti" asked Lucas for Reel number 2, Dialogue track number 2. R2-D2 and C-3PO characters are inspired from the famous comics duo of Laurel and Hardy. R2-D2 wind-up action figure made by Takara in Japan, was one of George Lucas's favorite toys. Lucasfilm itself ordered thousands of them for company employees.

Film, TV and Show appearances as myself

Tattoos: A Scarred History (2008)
Greatest Ever Blockbuster Movies (2006) (TV)
The 100 Greatest Family Films (2005) (TV)
Jeopardy! (1 episode, 2005)
- Episode dated 27 June 2005 (2005) TV episode (uncredited) / R2-D2
The Paul O'Grady Show (1 episode, 2005)
... aka The New Paul O'Grady Show (UK: new title)
- Episode #2.53 (2005) TV episode
'Star Wars': Feel the Force (2005) (TV)
GMTV (1 episode, 2005)
- Episode dated 10 May 2005 (2005) TV episode
The Ultimate Film (2004) (TV)
When Star Wars Ruled the World (2004) (TV)
Ultimate Sci-Fi Top 10 (2004) TV mini-series
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the 'Star Wars' Trilogy (2004) (TV) - 'R2-D2'
Dwarves in Showbiz (2002) (TV)
This Morning (1 episode, 1999)
... aka This Morning with Richard and Judy (UK: informal title)
- Episode dated 1 October 1999 (1999) TV episode
The Unauthorized 'Star Wars' Story (1999) (V)
Light Lunch (1 episode, 1998)
- The Light Side of the Force (1998) TV episode
Inside the Labyrinth (1986) (TV)
Donald Duck's 50th Birthday (1984) (TV).... R2-D2
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983) (TV) / R2D2 / Paploo
The Making of 'Star Wars' (1977) (TV) (uncredited) .... R2-D2