Alfie Curtis

Alfie Curtis (28 July 1930 – 30 November 2017) was a British actor. He played a number of television and film roles, and was best known for an appearance in Star Wars (1977).

Alfie Curtis
Alfie Curtis in Bowler (1973)
Born(1930-07-28)28 July 1930
Stepney, London, United Kingdom
Died30 November 2017(2017-11-30) (aged 87)
Billericay, Essex, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
OccupationActor
Years active1973–1986
Notable work
Star Wars

Life

Curtis was born in Stepney, London on 28 July 1930.[1]

He was an enthusiastic follower of football and supported Arsenal F.C. For a time, Curtis played as a semi-professional footballer and once played in a match against Arsenal.[2]

Career

Curtis was noted for his "rugged" features. He landed a number of acting parts that demanded a rough physical appearance through Ugly Models, a London modelling agency that specialises in artists and models who do not conform to typical standards of idealised beauty.[3]

Most of Curtis's appearances were in minor roles in British television series. He played the part of Matt Beckett in the TV police drama Cribb (1980–81) and Ted in the TV adaptation of J.B. Priestley's Lost Empires (1986). His cinema roles included an appearance in David Lynch's 1980 film The Elephant Man in which he played the part of a milkman.[4]

He was best known for a small part in the 1977 space opera film Star Wars, in which he played the role of insane Dr. Evazan, a criminal with a heavily scarred face who violently confronts Luke Skywalker in the Mos Eisley Cantina scene. Curtis's character states "I have the death sentence on twelve systems!" In the brief bar brawl, Evazan is injured by Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first use of a lightsaber in combat in the Star Wars franchise.[5][6]

Death

Curtis died on 30 November 2017 at the age of 87 in Billericay, Essex.[1][4]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1977Star WarsDr. EvazanUncredited
1980The Wildcats of St. Trinian'sTaxi driver
1980The Elephant ManMilkman
1981Take It or Leave ItVicarDocumentary
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1973BowlerRocky / Alfie2 episodes
1975Larry GraysonMan in Line-up / Cafe Customer / Sailor5 episodes
1979The Jim Davidson ShowHimself1 episode
1980Grange HillGateman1 episode
1980FoxConk1 episode
1980-1981CribbLandlord / Matt Beckett2 episodes
1981Lady KillersMr . Waters1 episode
1982Legacy of MurderAssistant thug
1982Q.E.D.Referee1 episode
1982The Gentle TouchGaffer1 episode
1983Jemima Shore InvestigatesVic1 episode
1984Tucker's LuckSteve2 episodes
1985The BillBernie1 episode
1986Lost EmpiresTed1 episode, (final appearance)

References
  1. Lentz III, Harris M. (2018). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2017. McFarland. pp. 87–88. ISBN 9781476670324. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  2. Hough, Kirsty (6 July 2018). "Granddaughter pays tribute to Star Wars actor who died aged 87". Essex Daily Gazette. Colchester. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  3. "UGLY". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. May 1978. p. 54. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  4. "Alfie Curtis, Dr. Evazan in 'Star Wars: A New Hope,' Dies at 87 (Report)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  5. "Doctor Cornelius Evazan". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  6. "Star Wars actor Alfie Curtis dies aged 87". BBC News. 27 December 2017.
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