I'm extremely saddened to report today that actor/stockbroker Michael Gilden (the Ewok hammering the foot of an AT-ST in ROTJ) was found dead in his home on December 5th.

I'd heard a rumor about his death earlier this week but was waiting for official confirmation. No official cause of death has been released to the public at this time.

Over the last year I'd had several very pleasant email and telephone conversations with Mr. Gilden as he was going to help with my Ewok project, unfortunately (beyond the friendly chats) we were both busy at different times and just couldn't get around to scheduling a good time to work out the details.

He recently starred as Pauley Perrette's love interest on NCIS and had appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Charmed, Family Law. He was also in Southland Tales (released this year), Pulp Fiction (with Samuel L. Jackson, Bronagh Gallagher and Phil LaMarr) and of course Return of the Jedi.

My sincerest condolences and all the best go to his wife, actress Meredith Eaton.

LM