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Anthony Daniels

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For other people named Anthony Daniels, see Anthony Daniels (disambiguation).

Anthony Daniels
Daniels in 2011
Born (1946-02-21) 21 February 1946 (age 78)
Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Occupation(s)Actor, mime artist
Years active1974–present
Known forC-3PO in Star Wars (1977–present)
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Spouse
Christine Savage
​
(m. 1999)​
Websiteanthonydaniels.com

Anthony Daniels[a] (born 21 February 1946)[2] is an English actor and mime artist, best known for playing C-3PO in 10 Star Wars films. He is the only actor to have been involved / appeared in all theatrical films in the series,[3] all canon animated television shows, as well as many of their spin-offs, including video games, radio serials, etc.

Daniels was the voice of Legolas in the Ralph Bakshi animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings (1978). He has appeared intermittently on British television in various dramas, including playing a pathologist in Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren. Daniels is currently an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center.[4]

Early life

Daniels was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, the son of a plastics company executive.[5] He was educated at Giggleswick School and studied law for two years at university, then dropped out to participate in amateur dramatics and attend Rose Bruford College. After leaving the college in 1974, Daniels worked on BBC Radio and for the National Theatre of Great Britain at The Young Vic. Whilst working in the theatre, he was invited to meet director George Lucas, who was casting for Star Wars. Daniels at first turned down the interview but was persuaded by his agent to meet Lucas.[6]

Daniels has said that before his role in Star Wars, the only science fiction film he had ever seen in a theatre was 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968; he was so displeased with the film that he walked out after 10 minutes and demanded his money back.[7] After Daniels was cast as C-3PO, Lucas recommended that he watch the film in its entirety to study HAL 9000's voice.[8] In a 2011 interview, Daniels said that he now regards 2001 as a masterpiece and that he also enjoys post-apocalyptic films such as Mad Max.[9]

He was a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company,[10] and speaks fluent French.[11][12]

Career

Star Wars

Daniels (right) with fellow Star Wars actor Warwick Davis (left) in 2007

After auditioning for the role of C-3PO, Daniels only became fully interested in it after seeing a concept design of the golden droid C-3PO by Ralph McQuarrie.[8] Daniels did not see the final costume until after donning it for the shoot and being shown a Polaroid photograph.[8] He struggled with delivering the character's lines until Lucas informed him that they would redub the dialogue in post-production.[8] Daniels also portrayed a protocol droid with a "white pointy face" in one shot in the original film.[8] Daniels was depressed with his lack of recognition after the film's successful release; he attributes this to Lucasfilm wanting audiences to believe that the droids were real.[8]

Daniels has played C-3PO in all of the Star Wars feature films (with the exception of Solo: A Star Wars Story) from the original instalment in the series as the golden droid's body and voice. Kenny Baker, who played R2-D2 in the series until his death in 2016, said that he and Daniels did not get along.[13][14] Daniels has reprised the role for various promotional work such as hosting The Making of Star Wars, Star Wars Connections and Science of Star Wars, appearances on The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, an anti-smoking public service announcement, The Star Wars Holiday Special,[15] and advertising for Star Wars-licensed products such as Kenner toys and a breakfast cereal based on the character.[16]

Daniels voiced C-3PO in the Star Wars radio serial based on the original trilogy. He is the only cast member of the original Star Wars trilogy to voice his character in all three parts of NPR's dramatisations of the trilogy. He voiced C-3PO for six animated series: Droids, Clone Wars, The Clone Wars, Rebels, Forces of Destiny, and Resistance. Other C-3PO voicework by Daniels includes: the Christmas-themed Christmas in the Stars album, Disney theme park attractions including Star Tours and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, and the Star Tours shutdown ceremony as a part of Disney's Hollywood Studios' "Last Tour to Endor" event at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Florida.[b] He also provided the narration and all character voices for the audio books Dark Force Rising and The Last Command.[18]

Daniels contributed the foreword to the collected scripts of the Return of the Jedi radio drama, as their author Brian Daley died while they were being recorded. Daniels' other Star Wars-related writings include the Wonder Column for Star Wars Insider magazine[8] and a comic book adventure for C-3PO and R2-D2 entitled The Protocol Offensive, published by Dark Horse Comics.[19]

Daniels in May 2011

In Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Daniels only voiced the character, which a puppeteer played on set.[8] Daniels attempted to puppeteer the character himself in the sequel, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, but after the script was changed, he returned to playing the droid in costume.[20] In this film and 2005's Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, he also performed the vocal tracks for scenes that featured a computer-generated C-3PO. Daniels is the only actor to act in all nine films, the 2008 Clone Wars film, and the related television series.[21]

Daniels also makes cameo appearances as a humanoid in two scenes of the feature films. His character, Lieutenant Dannl Faytonni, is named as a tribute to his own name, albeit in modified form. The character appears in the nightclub scene early in Attack of the Clones as a man in blue uniform who can be seen in a cutaway reaction shot after Obi-Wan Kenobi disarms the bounty hunter Zam Wesell. Faytonni can also be seen at the Galaxies Opera House in Revenge of the Sith.[22]

Daniels reprised his role as C-3PO in the seventh Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, which was released in December 2015.[23] J. J. Abrams, the director of The Force Awakens, told Daniels that he was only going to be the voice of C-3PO in the film, but changed his mind and decided Daniels would wear the suit in the film as well. Abrams made a new C-3PO suit for Daniels to wear during filming using 3D printing[8] that allowed Daniels a great deal more mobility and comfort than the original suit. Daniels has stated his displeasure with the droid's red arm.[8] Daniels also appeared as C-3PO in 2017's The Last Jedi,[24][25][26] and 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.[27]

Daniels appears in a cameo as C-3PO in 2016's Rogue One, the first standalone film in the Star Wars anthology series. He also makes an appearance as Tak in the second anthology film, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and voiced C-3PO's cameo appearance in Ralph Breaks the Internet, and The Lego Movie alongside other crewmembers of the Millennium Falcon.[28] He has also hosted the Star Wars: In Concert tour in North America.[29]

In March 2017, All Nippon Airways introduced a Boeing 777 modelled after C-3PO into service. Daniels attended the aircraft's unveiling.[30]

Other acting roles

Daniels was the voice of Legolas in the Ralph Bakshi animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings (1978). He has appeared intermittently on British television in various dramas, notably in a recurring role in Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren. He also played the priest in the British spoof horror film I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990).[31][32]

Other work

Daniels is an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center.[29]

His autobiography, I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story, was released on 5 November 2019 by DK.[33] He had previously considered using the title Telling the Odds.[34]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1977 Star Wars C-3PO [31]
1978 Bruges-la-Morte Pierrot [35][36]
The Lord of the Rings Legolas Greenleaf
Deagol 		Voice; uncredited as Deagol [31]
1980 The Empire Strikes Back C-3PO [31]
1982 Return of the Ewok Short video; unreleased
1983 Return of the Jedi [31]
1990 I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle Priest [32]
1999 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace C-3PO [c] [31]
2002 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones C-3PO, Dannl Faytonni [31]
2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith [31]
2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars C-3PO Voice
2014 The Lego Movie Voice; cameo appearance [28]
2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens [31]
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Cameo appearance
2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi [24][25][37]
2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story Tak Cameo appearance [38]
Ralph Breaks the Internet C-3PO Voice; cameo appearance
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker [27]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1978 Star Wars Holiday Special C-3PO TV Special [15]
1979 Turning Year Tales John Episode: "Dear Harriet"
1980 The Muppet Show C-3PO Episode: "The Stars of Star Wars"
Sesame Street 4 episodes
1984 The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady Kenneth 7 episodes
1985 Star Wars: Droids C-3PO Voice;
13 episodes 		[39]
1986 The Great Heep TV Movie
1987 Three Up Two Down Rupert Fairfax Episode: "Mirror Mirror on the Wall"
1988–89 Square Deal Julian 3 episodes
1990 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color C-3PO Voice;
Episode: "Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration"
1992 The Bill Richard Lee-Ward Episode: "Stoning the Glasshouse"
1995 Prime Suspect Pathologist "Inner Circles" and "The Lost Child", TV movies [31]
The Famous Five Professor Dobson Episode: "Five on a Secret Trail"
1997 Star Wars: Droids – The Pirates and the Prince C-3PO Voice;
Video
2001 Urban Gothic Mr Tidyman Episode: "Serotonin Wild"
2002 Star Wars: Connections C-3PO TV Short
2004 Holby City Colonel Donald Humphries Episode: "In the Line of Fire"
Ghosts of Albion Embers Lord Nelson Voice;
TV movie
2007 Micro Safari: Journey to the Bugs MAL Voice
2004–05 Star Wars: Clone Wars C-3PO Voice;
4 episodes
2008–11 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Voice;
11 episodes 		[28]
2010 Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III Voice;
TV movie
2011 Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace
2012 Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out
2012–13 Dirigible Days Narrator Voice;
Also executive producer;
5 episodes
2013–14 Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles C-3PO Voice;
6 episodes
2014 Star Wars Rebels Voice;
Episode: "Droids in Distress"
2015 Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales Voice;
5 episodes
2017 Star Wars Forces of Destiny Voice;
Episode: "Beasts of Echo Base"
2018 Star Wars Resistance Voice;
Episode: "The Recruit"
2020 The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special Voice;
TV movie

Documentary

Year Title Role Notes
1977 The Making of Star Wars C-3PO / Host TV movie documentary
1978 50th Academy Awards C-3PO / Presenter TV Special
1983 Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi C-3PO / Himself TV movie documentary
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
2004 Empire of Dreams Video documentary
2005 Science of Star Wars TV documentary miniseries

Theme park attractions

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Star Tours C-3PO Uncredited; also provides the voice in the French dub
2011 Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Uncredited

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Monopoly Star Wars C-3PO Also writer
2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels
2009 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – Ultimate Sith Edition
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0
2015 Star Wars Battlefront
2016 Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens [40]
I Expect You to Die Daniel Sans [41]
2020 Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge C-3PO
2021 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_Tales_from_the_Galaxy%27s_Edge#Gameplay

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ /ˈæntəni/ AN-tə-nee[1]
  2. ^ Including the film Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom: A Fan Film of Epic Proportions created with audience participation at Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, which was modified to include Star Wars characters; Daniels also appeared in a parade the same weekend at part of the park's "Star Wars Galactic Nights".[17]
  3. ^ Daniels provided the voice of the character, whilst a puppeteer portrayed the unplated C-3PO.

Citations

  1. ^ Jimmy Kimmel Live interview with J.J. Abrams and cast of The Rise of Skywalker (Jimmy Kimmel Live official YouTube channel)
  2. ^ "Biography". Anthony Daniels official website. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  3. ^ Kachka, Boris (24 March 2017). "Anthony Daniels on 4 Decades of Life As C-3PO". Vulture. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Faculty / Staff | Entertainment Technology Center". www.etc.cmu.edu. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  5. ^ Lubow, Arthur. "The Forces Behind Jedi: Making Movie History Took Lucas & Co. to the Outer Limits", People, vol. 20, no. 6, 8 August 1983.
  6. ^ "The Official Anthony Daniels Web Site". anthonydaniels.com.
  7. ^ Dermot O'Leary Show, BBC Radio 2, 21 March 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Daniels 2019.
  9. ^ "C-3PO: Q&A with Anthony Daniels". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Radio and audio book companies", in Lloyd Trott, ed., Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016, pp. 353–354
  11. ^ General_Kenobi (4 November 2007). "Anthony Daniels et Roger Carel 2_PC - vidéo Dailymotion". Dailymotion.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Q & A". Anthony Daniels. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  13. ^ Williams, Andrew. (27 October 2009). "Kenny Baker". Metro.
  14. ^ Famous co-stars who absolutely hated each other www.news.com.au, 4 November 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  15. ^ a b William Thomas; Ian Freer (3 December 2015). "The Star Wars Holiday Special: may the farce be with you". Empire (film magazine). Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  16. ^ Kevyn Cortez (19 September 2015). "Star Wars Episode VII's Anthony Daniels Confirms Practical C-3P0 Suit". movienewsguide. Movie News Guide. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  17. ^ Parfitt, Dave (22 April 2017). "Star Wars Galactic Nights at Walt Disney World is Force-tastic". HuffPost. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  18. ^ Trudi Miller Rosenblum (5 November 1994). "Avalanche of Audiobooks set for Holidays". Billboard. 106 (45). Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Star Wars: Droids – The Protocol Offensive". darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2 December 2015. written by See Threepio actor Anthony Daniels
  20. ^ "Attack of the Clones: Behind the Scenes". StarWars.com. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  21. ^ Alice Vincent (18 September 2014). "C3P0 will get a new suit for Star Wars VII". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 December 2015. The only actor to appear in all six Star Wars films
  22. ^ "4 Actors Who Played Multiple Star Wars Roles". starwars.com. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  23. ^ "Star Wars: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill reunite for latest film". BBC News. 29 April 2014.
  24. ^ a b "Star Wars: Episode VIII Now Filming". StarWars.com. Star Wars. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  25. ^ a b Christopher Hooton (23 January 2017). "Star Wars 8 gets official title: The Last Jedi". The Independent. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  26. ^ Rainey, James (4 September 2015). "'Star Wars': Anthony Daniels Slams Disney's 'Kremlin Attitude' Over 'Force Awakens'". Variety. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  27. ^ a b "Star Wars: Carrie Fisher and Richard E Grant among Episode IX cast". BBC News. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  28. ^ a b c Jessica Boulton (20 September 2015). "Star Wars C-3P0 on how R2-D2 was no Force to reckon with and Princess Leia in a bikini was boring". Mirror. Retrieved 24 September 2015. even had a cameo in 2013's The Lego Movie
  29. ^ a b MaryCatherine (15 September 2009). "Adjunct Professor Anthony Daniels to Narrate North American tour of Star Wars: In Concert". ETC Global News. Carnegie Mellon University.
  30. ^ ANA's 4th 'Star Wars' jet goes into domestic service 21 March 2017, www.japantoday.com, accessed 13 December 2020
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ryan Gilbey (3 September 2015). "'The secrecy has been ludicrous': Star Wars actor Anthony Daniels on the new film and his life as C-3PO". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  32. ^ a b Kim Newman (1 January 2000). "I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle Review". Empire. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  33. ^ Newbold, Mark (13 April 2019). "I AM C-3PO: The Inside Story by Anthony Daniels". Fantha Tracks. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  34. ^ LaSalata, Justin (13 April 2019). "New Book Titled I Am C-3PO Written By Anthony Daniels". Jedi News. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  35. ^ Bruges-La-Morte (1978) www.imdb.com, accessed 13 December 2020
  36. ^ BRUGES-LA-MORTE 1978 FEATURE Prix de la Presse/ Ghent Film Fesvital (sic) 1980 ronaldchaseart.com, accessed 13 December 2020
  37. ^ Coggan, Devan (22 September 2017). "Star Wars: The Last Jedi has officially wrapped, says director Rian Johnson". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  38. ^ Ryan, Mike (12 May 2018). "Is Anthony Daniels In 'Solo: A Star Wars Story'? Jonathan Kasdan Gives Us An Unexpected Answer". Uproxx. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  39. ^ Greene, Jamie (18 January 2018). "Everything You'd Ever Want To Know About Star Wars: Droids". Syfy Wire. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  40. ^ Dan Brooks (28 June 2016). "The Bricks Are Calling to You: Inside LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens". starwars.com. StarWars.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016. Same thing with Anthony Daniels. We got him to reprise C-3PO.
  41. ^ Peter Graham (13 December 2016). "Become a Puzzle Solving Spy in I Expect You To Die on PlayStation VR". vrfocus.com. vrfocus.com. Retrieved 19 July 2019. Esteemed actor Anthony Daniels – C-3PO in Star Wars films – lends his voice talents throughout the game.

Sources

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