David Prowse, the actor that brought Darth Vader to life on the screen, has announced he is battling cancer. It is heartening to hear that he still feels well, but he is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. He is 73 years old.

Some have filled the suit since his portrayal, but his acting gave Vader that signature look and feel. The long gate, the stiff but somehow elegant movements, the rigid gloved hand pointing menacingly to some hapless Imperial officer or doomed Rebel Alliance traitor, the looming presence that filled doorways with ominous darkness...

All of these were made possible by Prowse's excellent physical acting. What he did without recorded dialog spoke volumes still. His larger portion of the Vader character was mastery in non-verbal character exposition.

On a positive note, he says he has received his "last treatment" for the condition, and says "It's amazing what can be done so long as you catch it early." So hopefully the worst scare is over.

Let's remember his glory days, and offer our support. Light Side and Dark Side alike, our Star Wars actors need our hope that they will see these times through.

DM out