Morris Bush
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
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| Morris Bush | |
|---|---|
| Died | |
| Career | |
| Star Wars work |
Episode V, Episode IV (Poss) |
Morris Bush (d. 1995) was the actor who played Dengar.
British actor Morris Bush contributed in some small way to the mythos of Hammer horror films by playing the unnamed farmer in Roy Ward Baker's Scars of Dracula (1970), alongside with Christopher Lee in his usual Dracula role.
Bush also appeared a few years later as a monster in the bizarre musical comedy Son of Dracula (a.k.a. Count Downe) in 1974, directed by Freddie Francis, and starring legendary musician Harry Nilsson. This strange movie also features Ringo Starr as Merlin the magician. Bush's small role as the mute and child-like Frankenstein Monster is both charming and memorable.
Bush was selected to play mummy-like bounty hunter Dengar in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), uncredited and without any speaking lines.
Dengar was intended to appear again in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), as one of the background characters on Jabba the Hutt's sail barge, and his footage was filmed. However, save for a small appearance shortly after Luke Skywalker falls into the Rancor pit, Dengar was edited from the final movie. Dengar's face in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is never clearly seen and it is possible that Bush did not play the role on this occasion.
His appearances would be used as Expanded Universe background for the character that take place shortly after the events at Jabba's Palace. (It was Dengar who saved Boba Fett from the Sarlacc).
It is also highly likely that Morris Bush was on the set of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), as Dave Prowse recounts that Morris Bush subbed for him as Darth Vader for the sequence immediately following the death of Obi-Wan Kenobi. (It was Morris Bush's foot we see kicking Kenobi's empty cloak).
Morris Bush died in 1995.
