The BBCStar Wars and River City actor Angus McInnes has died at the age of 77.
The Canadian was best known for playing Y-wing fighter Gold Leader Jon “Ditch” Wander in Episode IV: A New Hope, but also had roles in Rogue One and Hollywood blockbusters including Hellboy and Captain Phillips. .
He later appeared as Sonny Munro in River City and Toastig in the History Channel series Vikings, but moved to Edinburgh in the mid-1980s, where he set up a successful pizza restaurant.
In a post on his official Facebook page, his family confirmed that he died on December 23 “surrounded by friends and family”.
In a statement, they said he was a “beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.”
Convention community
As Dutch, McInnes portrayed a former Imperial pilot who defected to the dark side in a rebellion led by Luke Skywalker after ordering the bombing of part of his home planet.
He is one of those killed during the initial attack on Darth Vader’s Death Star in the 1977 film, though he returned to the series in 2016 when archive footage was used in the franchise reboot.
His family said fans of the series had “a special place in his heart”.
He wrote: “He loved meeting you at conventions, hearing your stories, and sharing your passion for stories.
“He was continually humbled, delighted, and honored by the admiration and passion of fans and the convention community.”
Getty ImagesHe also starred alongside Tom Hanks as one of the crew aboard the Maersk Alabama when it was kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Somalia in the 2013 film Captain Phillips.
He also played Council Judge Gerald Silver in the 1995 version of Judge Dredd, starring Sylvester Stallone, and Sergeant Whitman in the 2004 film Hellboy opposite Ron Perlman.
Away from the big screen, McInnes opened Mamma’s Pizza in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket in 1985 during a break from his acting career.
His family added: “Angus was more than an actor – he was a kind, thoughtful, and generous soul who brought warmth and humor into the lives of everyone who knew him.
“He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and co-stars, but also by his fans around the world – his family thanks you all.”