Jason Wingreen, Voice of Boba Fett in ‘Star Wars,’ Dead at 95

You may not immediately recognize the name Jason Wingreen, but the prolific actor had almost 200 credits to his name, including the original voice of fan-favorite bounty hunter Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back. The actor, whose voice was replaced in George Lucas’ notorious DVD re-release of the Star Wars trilogy, has passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of roles that extend far beyond that galaxy far, far away.

Wingreen passed away in his home on Christmas Day, as his son confirmed to THR. The actor provided the voice for Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back, and although he only had a handful of lines before his famous exit, the character became so popular among fans that his origin story was a major plot point in the prequel trilogy.

Younger Star Wars fans are likely more familiar with Temuera Morrison, the Maori actor who played Jango Fett — Boba’s father — in the prequels. When Lucas re-released the original trilogy with additional footage and CG sequences, he had Morrison re-record Wingreen’s lines.

Wingreen did not initially receive credit for his voice work, nor did he ever receive residual payment for his part in the blockbuster franchise; his contributions weren’t even officially acknowledged until 2000.

The actor began his long career in 1955, and spent much of his career appearing on television shows such as The Fugitive, The Twilight Zone and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. His other notable roles include recurring parts on All in the Family and Matlock, guest spots on Gunsmoke and Bonanza, and supporting roles in movies like The Dunwich Horror and Oh God, You Devil. His final on-screen appearance was a guest spot on a 1994 episode of In the Heat of the Night.

As the popularity of Boba Fett endures among Star Wars fans, let’s not forget the man who originally gave the enigmatic bounty hunter a voice.