Lucky for fans it did, since Bulloch immediately understood what the character needed to bring to the screen. “I thought of Boba Fett as Clint Eastwood in a suit of armor,” he’d once said, suggesting the bounty hunter’s slow, deliberate moves, cradled rifle, and cocked hip were signature attributes inspired by classic western gunfighters. Empire’s sound designer Ben Burtt even added the jangling of spurs when Fett walked.
Bulloch did actually get a brief moment, sans helmet, in The Empire Strikes Back when he was asked to step in as an Imperial officer escorting a captive Princess Leia through Cloud City, with Boba Fett (again played by Bulloch) in tow. He would receive a second brief face cameo in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, playing the captain of the Tantive III, Captain Colton.
“Jeremy brought the perfect combination of mystery and menace to his performance of Boba Fett, which is just what I wanted the character to convey,” says Lucas. “In addition, Jeremy was a true gentleman who was very supportive of Star Wars and its fans, and I’m very grateful for his contributions to the saga and its legacy.”
Bulloch was a regular feature at many of the Star Wars Celebration events hosted over the last 20 years, and has become a beloved figure among fans for his gracious personality and generous spirit. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered for the legacy he leaves to the Star Wars saga and its fans.
