English Swordmaster Bob Anderson, the man who performed the role of Darth Vader for the light saber fight scenes in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi has passed away at the age of 89.

In addition to his roles in the aforementioned Star Wars films, Anderson has worked as an actor, stunt performer and swordmaster on more than four dozen projects over the course of a career spanning more than forty years, including The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Princess Bride, The Phantom, Highlander and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Director Peter Jackson posted the following message about Anderson on his Facebook page:

“It is a rare, even within the film industry, that you get to work with a legend which was why I was thrilled when Bob Anderson agreed to come on board The Lord of the Rings as our sword-master. In fact, it took a while for it to sink in that I was going to get to work with the same man who had helped create some of cinema’s greatest fight sequences – from Star Wars to The Princess Bride. Bob was a brilliant swordsman and a gifted teacher; I will remember him as a wonderfully patient man, possessed of a terrific sense of humour. It was a privilege to have known him.”

Bob Anderson is survived by his wife Pearl and three children.