Paul Grant death: Star Wars actor dies aged 56 after collapsing outside King’s Cross station
Actor played one of the unnamed Ewoks in 1983’s ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’
Star Wars actor Paul Grant has died, aged 56, after collapsing outside a London train station.
The actor was found by police at King’s Cross on Thursday (16 March), and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced braindead.
His family announced that they made the decision to switch off his life support machine on Sunday (19 March). A cause of death is yet to be announced.
Daughter Sophie Jayne Grant, 28, said she is “devastated”, and called her father “a legend in so many ways”.
She said in a statement to The Sun: “He always brought a smile and laughter to everyone’s face. He would do anything for anyone and was a massive Arsenal fan.”
The actor was 4ft, 4in and called himself “the king of the Dwarfs”.
He played one of the unnamed Ewoks in the 1983 Star Wars film Return of the Jedi, sharing the screen with actors Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford.
Grant also co-starred with Tom Cruise in Legend (1985), David Bowie in Labyrinth (1986) and Val Kilmer in Willow (1988), and filmed an uncredited role in 2001’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
In Brian Henson’s fantasy film Labyrinth, in which he played one of the Goblin Corps, Grant also served as the stunt double for Hoggle, who was performed by Shari Weiser and voiced by Brian Henson.
Grant’s girlfriend, Maria Dwyer, paid tribute to the actor, writing: “Paul was the love of my life. The funniest man I know. He made my life complete. Life is never going to be the same without him.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Grant’s stepdaughter, who wrote: “I’m starting this page as Paul sadly passed away yesterday and I would like to give him the best send off he would want.”
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Three weeks before his death, Grant was filmed at the same location he collapsed, discussing how he “blew” his Star Wars fortune and was “drinking too much”.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said of Grant’s collapse: “We were called at 2.08pm on Thursday 16 March to reports of an incident at St Pancras Station, Euston Road.
“We sent an ambulance crew and a medic in a response car. We treated a man at the scene and took him to hospital as a priority.”
Grant is survived by his girlfriend Maria, his two daughters and one son as well as his stepchildren and grandchildren.
In December 2022, one of Grant’s Ewok co-stars, Gary Friedkin, died aged 70.
Alcoholics Anonymous helpline is open 24/7 on 0800 9177 650. If you would prefer, you can also email them at [email protected] or live chat via their website at www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk. Drinkline, a free, confidential helpline for people who are concerned about their drinking, or someone else’s. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm)
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