AceShowbiz -

Actor Richard LeParmentier who played Admiral Motti in "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" passed away on Tuesday morning, April 16, at the age of 66. According to his publicist, LeParmentier, who lived in Bath, England, was visiting his family in Austin, Texas when he suddenly died. The cause of death is currently unclear.

LeParmentier's family thanked fans and people who offered condolences in a statement. According to the statement, many of his fans remember him as "a warm, genuine person with an unparalleled joie de vivre and gift for friendship (not to mention a mean petanque player)." The actor loved meeting "Star Wars" fans and traveling around the world. His family said that they felt grateful for his frequent visits.

LeParmentier starred in many projects throughout his career, including movies "Octopussy", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "Superman II". He also appeared on TV shows such as "Capital City" and "We'll Meet Again". He later found a job as a screenwriter for a British TV station. He was still working on a project two days before his death.

Admiral Motti was choked by Darth Vader for doubting the power of the Force in "Star Wars". In regards to his choking scene, the actor once said, "I did the choking effect by flexing muscles in my neck. It set off a chain of events, that choking. I can't do it anymore because, oddly enough, I have had an operation on my neck and had some 21st century titanium joints put into it." According to Daily Mail, George Lucas originally offered him an unnamed character with a few lines, but he declined.