by Ruth S. Baker

“Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse dies aged 85 …
Prowse was in the Vader suit for much of the Sith Lord’s screen time and reputedly even got to
speak his lines on set, though his west country tones were dubbed over with those of American
actor James Earl Jones in post-production …
Prowse and Lucas later fell out, leading to Prowse being banned from official Star Wars
activities in 2010 …
Despite the fame he won as Vader, Prowse said he was most proud of his role as the Green
Cross Man in a long-running British road safety campaign, for which he was awarded an MBE in 2000.”
—The Guardian

Here Darth Vader lies, whose bones
Were not played by James Earl Jones:
Son of Lucas, dad of Luke,
Oedipus in guise of spook,
And—in quite another mode—
Hero of the Green Cross Code.
Reader, if you’d speak his praise,
Say that, having looked both ways,
Vader crossed, with booted stride,
Safely to the brighter side.