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Kenny Baker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenneth George Baker (born August 24, 1934) is a British actor best known as the man inside of R2-D2 in the popular Star Wars film series.
Baker, who stands 3 feet, 8 inches (112 cm) tall, was a circus and cabaret performer with entertainer Jack Purvis when George Lucas hired him to be the man inside R2-D2 in Star Wars in 1977. Baker appears in five of the six Star Wars films; though credited on Episode III, he never filmed any scenes. George Lucas decided to credit him in the film out of loyalty. Baker played an additional role in 1983's Return of the Jedi as Paploo, the Ewok who steals an Imperial speeder bike. He was originally going to play Wicket W. Warrick, but he fell ill, and that role was handed over to Warwick Davis.
Baker's other films include The Elephant Man, Time Bandits (also with Purvis), Amadeus and Jim Henson's Labyrinth.
He currently resides in Preston, England.
- Kenny recently made a cameo appearance in the popular British medical drama show Casualty. A notable line in the show had him insulted by another character, who referrenced his appearance in the Star Wars movies with the line : "Hey, R2-D2, go inside."
- In the late 1990s, Baker launched a stand up comedy career.
- Kenny is a mouth-organ player and rates his guest appearance with the James Coutts Scottish Dance Band at Hugh McCaig's Silverstone Party in July 1997 as probably his "finest musical experience".
- Though both he and his late wife have dwarfism, their two sons do not.
- Baker owned a converted Rolls Royce, which was recently sold at auction. He decided to sell it after being convicted for drunk driving in December 2004, for which he received a £50 fine and a one-year driving ban.