Anthony Daniels

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

Anthony Daniels, 2005
Born 21 February 1946
Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom
Occupation Actor, mime artist
Years active 1976–present
Website
anthonydaniels.com

Anthony Daniels (born 21 February 1946) is a British actor. He is best known for potraying the droid C-3PO in the Star Wars film series.

Early life

Daniels was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, the son of a plastics company executive.[1] He studied Law for two years then dropped out to participate in amateur dramatics and attend acting school. After leaving 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.[2]

Never a science fiction fan, Daniels has said that before his role in Star Wars, the only science fiction film he had ever gone to see in a theatre was 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968. He was so displeased with the film that he walked out after only ten minutes and demanded his money back.[3] However in a 2011 interview he said that he had watched it for longer than 10 minutes, and having since watched it in full, now regards it as a masterpiece. In the same interview he also said he enjoyed post-apocalyptic films, like ‘Mad Max’.[4]

Career

Star Wars

Daniels in May 2011
Daniels with fellow Star Wars actor Warwick Davis in 2010

Daniels has played C-3PO in all six of the Star Wars feature films from the original installment in the series, as both the body and voice of the golden robot. In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, he wore a blue Spandex costume so that during editing of the movie his body could be turned into many different wires and circuits. Daniels has reprised the role for various promotional work such as hosting The Making of Star Wars, Star Wars Connections and The Science of Star Wars; for appearances on The Muppet Show and Sesame Street and an anti-smoking public service announcement; for Star Wars Holiday Special; in advertising for Star Wars licensed products such as Kenner toys and even a breakfast cereal based on the character.

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 three animated series: Droids, Star Wars: Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Other C-3PO voicework by Daniels includes: the Christmas-themed Christmas in the Stars album; the multiple Walt Disney theme park attractions, Star Tours and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue; the fan film/show Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom: A Fan Film of Epic Proportions and the Star Tours shutdown ceremony as a part of the Disney's Hollywood Studios' "Last Tour to Endor" event at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Florida. He also provided the narration and all character voices for the audio books Dark Force Rising and The Last Command.

Anthony Daniels in 2013

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

He controlled the puppet for 2002's Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, but all these scenes were cut, with the droid's first appearance in the film being Daniels in costume. In this film and 2005's Star Wars: 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 the original six films, the 2008 Clone Wars film, and the related television series. Daniels hosted the Star Wars: In Concert North American tour.[5]

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 Outlander nightclub scene early in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones as a man in blue uniform who can be seen in a cutaway reaction shot after Obi-Wan disarms the bounty hunter Zam Wesell. Faytonni can also be seen at the Galaxies Opera House in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Daniels reprised his role as C-3PO in The Lego Movie when his character made a cameo appearance along with other crew members of the Millennium Falcon.

On April 29, 2014, it was confirmed that Daniels would reprise his role as C-3PO in Star Wars Episode VII (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), which began filming in May 2014.[6]

Other acting roles

Daniels was the voice of Legolas in Ralph Bakshi’s 1978 animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. 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 1990 British spoof horror film I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle.

He has also appeared at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida for the Star Wars Weekends as he gave his “inside the saga” story.

Other work

Daniels is an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center.[5]

Personal life

Daniels married Christine Savage on 9 May 2014.[7] He has a son from a previous relationship.

References

  1. ↑ Lubow, Arthur. "The Forces Behind Jedi: Making Movie History Took Lucas & Co. to the Outer Limits", People, vol. 20, no. 6, 8 August 1983.
  2. ↑ http://www.anthonydaniels.com/biography/index.html
  3. ↑ Dermot O'Leary Show, BBC Radio 2, 21 March 2009.
  4. ↑ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/11/09/qa-with-anthony-daniels/
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 MaryCatherine (15 September 2009). "Adjunct Professor Anthony Daniels to Narrate North American tour of Star Wars: In Concert". ETC Global News. Carnegie Mellon University.
  6. ↑ "Star Wars: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill reunite for latest film". BBC News. 29 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Picture - Anthony Daniels and his then partner (now wife) Christine work=Contact Music". 22 Nov 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anthony Daniels.