Tributes Paid to Kenny Baker, R2-D2 Actor

Tributes poured in over the weekend after the passing of Kenny Baker, the man who portrayed R2-D2 in Star Wars.

The actor died aged 81 after a long illness. Baker played the role of the lovable droid throughout the entire Star Wars series, and acted as a consultant for The Force Awakens, released last year. His other acting credits include Flash Gordon, Labyrinth, and Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits.

There was an outpouring of support over Twitter from co-stars and fans alike. Director George Lucas described Baker as "a real gentleman", while Mark Hamill, the actor for Luke Skywalker, called him a "life-long friend".

Baker was a father of two. His wife, Eileen, died in 1993.

Goodbye #KennyBaker A lifelong loyal friend-I loved his optimism & determination He WAS the droid I was looking for! pic.twitter.com/rd94OEYaHi

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) 13 August 2016