He's tall dark and mean – and carries enough menace to make any Jedi quake behind his lightsabre.

Now one of the most iconic movie villains of all time is coming to Carlisle.

The man who wore the mask of Darth Vader will be the star attraction at the city’s forthcoming Comic Con.

Dave Prowse – the 6ft 6in bodybuilder who played the arch-enemy of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia in the original three Star Wars movies – will be meeting fans who flock to the Richard Rose Central Academy.

Carlisle Comic Con organiser Neil Livesey, of Wonky Rocket Events, says his 82-year-old friend is always popular with fans.

“Dave sells tickets wherever he appears,” Neil said.

“Darth Vader, the character he played, has been described as the most iconic movie villain of all time – and he is.

“Also, people of a certain age will remember him as the Green Cross Code Man (on TV).

“For those reasons Dave creates a lot of excitement wherever he goes.”

Dave acted the part of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy – three of the biggest box office hits of all time.

He starred alongside the likes of Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and the late Carrie Fisher but his lines were re-recorded for the distinctive Darth Vader voice by American James Earl Jones.

Neil added: “People are in awe of Dave when they see him; they are starstruck.

“He is a very nice person and he will chat and answer anything fans want to know.

“No subject is out of bounds for him and he has lots of great stories to tell of when he made the movies.”


Dave Prowse as Green Cross Code Man The actor’s visit to Cumbria comes just days after the name of the new Star Wars movie was revealed.

On Monday it was announced that the latest installment will be called Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It is due for release on December 15. A sequel – Episode IX – is scheduled for 2019.

Dave Prowse heads an impressive list of screen stars and industry experts who are heading to Carlisle’s first Comic Con on March 18.

Others already confirmed include former Dr Who Colin Baker, comedian Norman Lovett, who played Holly in Red Dwarf, and Ian Beattie, who played Sir Meryn Trant in Game of Thrones.

The event will also include an array of cars, props and outfits as well as stalls selling rare and collectable items.

Tickets can be bought at www.carlislecomiccon.co.uk