Erik Bauersfeld, best known for voicing characters in the Star Wars saga, including military alien Admiral Ackbar, has died aged 93. The voice actor and radio producer passed away peacefully in his California home, according to his manager.
Admiral Ackbar was never a major character in the Star Wars saga, compared to the likes of Luke or Leia. But his memorable role in Return Of The Jedi – not to mention his bizarre fish-like appearance (he is a member of the deliciously-named Mon Calamari species) – made him beloved to a legion of Star Wars fans.
In Jedi’s dramatic third act, Ackbar is commanding the rebel fleet from the bridge of his ship, Home One. He expects the rebel attack on the Death Star to be swift and decisive; as they realise with mounting horror the ambush has been laid for them, Ackbar offers up the immortal words “it’s a trap!” – and an instantly iconic character was born.
Bauersfeld returned to voice the character in last year’s The Force Awakens, in which Ackbar has been coaxed out of retirement to join General Leia’s Resistance. He voiced the character in various Star Wars video games, and also lent his tones to Jabba the Hutt’s lieutenant Bib Fortuna.
Bauersfeld’s voice work in film was, by his account, “accidental". A radio producer by trade, he was working in Lucasfilm’s technical departments in the early '80s when legendary sound designer Ben Burtt dropped by and asked him to audition.
"[Burtt] showed me the picture of Admiral Ackbar, and I did it," Bauersfeld told a newspaper in 2011. "I saw the face, and I knew what he must sound like."
He viewed the Star Wars fanatics who requested autographs on a daily basis with a mixture of respect and bemusement. "I don't remember the first request for an autograph," Bauersfeld said. "But I was quite pleased. I thought, 'My God, somebody is actually writing to me about something that I almost don't remember doing.'"