‘Star Wars’ Icon David Prowse Has Dementia

David Prowse has announced that he has dementia, which is why he has been unable to join up again with his former Stars Wars actors in The Force Awakens.

The legendary actor, who starred as Darth Vader in the Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars Episode IV: The Return of the Jedi, made the admission about his health to the Mirror.

Prowse explained that his dementia would have left him unable to remember his lines while on set.

“Now I would probably forget my lines. But it wouldn’t have mattered what it was, I would have loved to have something in it – even if it was just a cameo.”

Prowse also stated that even though he would love to have appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it was highly unlikely that he would ever return for another installment to the series.

“I would have loved to have been involved. Of course, Vader got killed off and there was no way back. But the fans ask me if I’m going to be in the new movies and I just say: ‘Sorry, not that I know of.'”

The actor admitted that he is currently trying to combat his illness by taking medication. However, he confessed that at times he is still unable to remember things that he had done yesterday, let alone over 30 years ago.

“Sometimes I can’t remember things I did yesterday. That worries me more than not remembering something 20 years ago. There’s nothing you can do. They’ve put me on tablets. I don’t feel it working though. I don’t feel I’ve improved at all. I don’t feel in any shape or form like I am demented. I’m not staggering around.”

David Prowse has remained stalwart throughout his medical issues though. He hasn’t noticed how much he has changed due to the illness, instead it is his wife who has had to watch as he slowly manifests due to his dementia.

“I’ve never worried about it. It’s other people who noticed it… my wife has probably noticed it more than me.”

Prowse went on to explain that he has forgotten numerous integral incidents that took place in his life. This includes meeting the likes of Muhammed Ali, and what the Queen said to him when he picked up his MBE.

David Prowse played Darth Vader in the first three Star Wars films, but his voice was actually over-dubbed by American actor James Earl Jones.

[Image via Mirror]