Erik Bauersfeld, who voiced Admiral Ackbar in the Star Wars movies, has died. He was 93.
His death was confirmed by Derek Maki, his manager, who said the voice actor passed away in his Berkeley, California home on April 3rd.
The work Bauersfeld did in movies was actually accidental. According to him, he was working on radio dramas with Randy Thom at his technical quarters at Lucasfilm when Star Wars sound designer Ben Burtt just dropped by one day and asked Baursfeld if he'd like to audition to voice a role in a movie.
He got the part for Admiral Ackbar, who was first introduced in Return of the Jedi. In the same film, he also lent his voice to Bib Fortuna, a staffer for Jabba the Hutt. Bauersfeld returned to Star Wars to voice Ackbar once again in J.J. Abrams' The Force Awakens. He's also credited with voicing the admiral for Star Wars: X-Wing, a flight simulator video game released in 1993.
Admiral Ackbar is a veteran commander who led the defense for Mon Cala, his homeworld, during the Clone Wars and masterminded the rebel attack at the Battle of Endor against the second Death Star. After realizing a trap had been set for the rebels at Endor, he was able to adjust with his fleet, buying enough time to ensure the success of the rebel attack.
He became a Grand Admiral in the New Republic after the Battle of Endor, going on to win many more victories, including the crucial battle in Jakku. After he retired and went back to Mon Cala, he was convinced by Leia Organa to serve the Resistance once again.
Many might not know the details of Admiral Ackbar's life but will recognize him easily for his infamous "It's a trap" line, which has been turned into a meme.
Outside Star Wars, Bauersfeld also lent his voice to are Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Guillermo Del Toro's Crimson Peak. He also has several documentaries: One Fast Move or I'm Gone: Kerouac's Big Sur; Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of Wonder; The Kamoro; and My Saga, which is still in post-production but scheduled for a 2016 release.
