The Star Wars franchise also meant big profits, an unstoppable Death-Star-sized money machine that has still never been matched in Hollywood history.

FORBES: Magazine Article

LeParmentier's brief Star Wars appearance saw his character extol the virtues of the Empire's Death Star space station and pour scorn on Vader's "sad devotion to that ancient Jedi religion".

BBC: Star Wars actor Richard LeParmentier dies

The White House has rejected a petition to build a Death Star - a huge battle-station armed with a superlaser as seen in the Star Wars films.

BBC: US shoots down Death Star superlaser petition