Jeremy Bulloch


Jeremy Bulloch is a retired English actor best known for the role of the bounty hunter Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy. He has appeared in numerous British television and film productions, including Doctor Who and Robin of Sherwood.

Early life

Bulloch was born in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England, one of six children. From the age of five, he enjoyed acting and singing after a school show. He began acting at the age of ten and has "appeared in Disney films, British sitcoms and plays." He trained at Corona Stage Academy.

Career

Beginnings

At the age of twelve, Bulloch's first professional appearance was in a breakfast cereal commercial. After several uncredited screen appearances, Bulloch's first regular role was in the 1960 TV series Counter-Attack! and The Chequered Flag. He went on to have a recurring role in Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School and a regular role in The Newcomers. At the age of seventeen, he portrayed Hamlet on stage. In 1962, he starred alongside Cliff Richard in the musical film Summer Holiday. He had a part in The Devil's Agent, which also starred Christopher Lee who later portrayed Count Dooku in the Prequel Trilogy. He also appeared in two Doctor Who stories, The Space Museum and The Time Warrior. Coincidently, Bulloch, David Prowse and John Hollis, all of whom would later appear in The Empire Strikes Back appeared in a Jon Pertwee Doctor Who serial. From 1979 to 1981, he was a regular in the ITV sitcom Agony, in which he played Rob Illingworth, one half of a gay couple. He also has minor roles in three James Bond films, twice playing Smithers, an assistant to Q.

''Star Wars''

In a career spanning over half a century, he is most famous for his role in Boba Fett's costume in the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi – despite the character's "minimal screen time." The voice was provided by Jason Wingreen originally and in the updated versions Temuera Morrison – to strengthen the connection with the Prequel Trilogy. His half brother Robert Watts, who was working as an associate producer for Empire was tasked with finding someone who "would fit in the costume of Boba Fett." So Watts called Bulloch and encouraged him to see Tiny Nicholls, the wardrobe supervisor and Bulloch had a costume fitting as Boba Fett, which "took 20 minutes to put on." Additionally, he plays a minor role as an Imperial officer, who grabs Leia when she warns Luke Skywalker of Vader's trap in The Empire Strikes Back. Bulloch was initially to do the scene as Fett when he fires at Skywalker on Cloud City. But with no one available to play the part, Bulloch went to the wardrobe and got changed into the "Imperial Officer's outfit." This was his only non-masked appearance in the original Star Wars films. John Morton, who portrayed the rebel pilot Dak Ralter, covered Bulloch as a body double for Fett when the character confronts Vader in the Bespin hallway during Han Solo's torture. Filming lasted three weeks.
Bulloch returned as Boba Fett for the fan film mocumentary: Return of the Ewok chasing Wicket on the Death Star. He filmed his scenes for Jedi for four weeks. Bulloch was unaware of Fett's demise prior to filming and was disappointed since he would have liked to do more with his character. Bulloch said that portraying Fett was the most uncomfortable role he played and that putting on the jetpack "was very heavy."
While portraying Fett, Bulloch drew some inspiration from Clint Eastwood's the Man with No Name. Both Fett and Eastwood's character in A Fistful of Dollars wear similar capes, cradle their gun, ready to shoot and move in slow motion. In an interview in 2014, Bulloch recalled when he said to an Imperial Officer, "Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold," when he actually said, "Put Captain Cargo in the Solo Hold."
In 2004, Bulloch published a limited edition memoir, Flying Solo, which is a humorous account of his personal and professional life, interspersed with tales from the convention circuit. In 2005, for the first time in 22 years, he once again made an appearance in a Star Wars film, '. This time he portrayed Captain Jeremoch Colton piloting Kenobi, Bail Organa and Yoda to Coruscant in an Alderaan Cruiser. Afterwards, Bulloch played a small cameo role in Star Wars fan films Order of the Sith: Vengeance and its sequel Downfall – Order of the Sith – alongside David Prowse and Michael Sheard. These fan films were made in England in support of Save the Children.
In an interview in 2013, he expressed an interest in being involved in a future Star Wars film in some way saying, "The lovely thing is...if I'm wearing a helmet, no one knows how old I am." However, since then he has denied involvement in future projects. Although Boba Fett did not appear in ', long before the film's release, Bulloch hinted that an anthology film, which will focus on the origins of Boba Fett will be made.
He was featured in the 2015 documentary Elstree 1976; a behind-the-scenes film, which focuses on the lives of some actors and extras who appeared in the Star Wars original trilogy. The documentary had a premiere at the BFI London Film Festival

Other work

Bulloch has a part in a British TV advert for McCarthy and Stone retirement flats. In 2004, he had a cameo in Mark Hamill's which also featured some Star Wars alumni such as David Prowse and Peter Mayhew. In 2005, he played the role of "Chairman Skellon" in a stage production of The Trial of Davros. In 2006, Bulloch provided the voice of Sir Logan the Prowler in the Night Traveler multimedia adventure series produced by Lunar Moth Entertainment.
In 2008, Richard LeParmentier, well known for his portrayal of Admiral Motti in Star Wars worked on Motti Now, a spoof of Apocalypse Now, featuring Bulloch and other Star Wars actors including Kenneth Colley, Garrick Hagon and Jerome Blake.
In the late 1980s, Bulloch narrated some stories of the British-Welsh children's animated series Fireman Sam for children's audio cassettes from Tempo.

Personal life

Bulloch has three sons, ten grandchildren, and lives in London with his wife, Maureen. His half-brother is Robert Watts, who was a producer on The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and the Indiana Jones films. Watts also had a cameo as Lieutenant Watts in Return of the Jedi. His son Robbie portrayed Matthew of Wickham in four episodes of Robin of Sherwood. The character is the son of Edward of Wickham portrayed by Bulloch. Another son is the translator Jamie Bulloch. His sister Sally Bulloch was a child actress prior to becoming an executive manager of the Athenaeum Hotel.
He once considered being a sportsman but ultimately chose to go into acting. Long before portraying Fett, Bulloch trained with David Prowse at his gym in South London. In his spare time, he enjoys playing cricket and travelling. Bulloch says that he has been a fan of Star Trek ever since the original series.
Ever since the release of the Star Wars Special Edition trilogy, prequel trilogy and new films, he is frequently invited to science fiction conventions throughout the world, and was inducted as an Honorary Member of the 501st Legion costuming organisation in May 2002. Later, in November 2009, he actually joined the 501st as a costume-wearing member making appearances with the group as Boba Fett. Since 2000, he has been a frequent guest at the Star Wars Weekends.
In August 2018 Jeremy posted on his personal web site, the news he would no longer be attending any future conventions. This was also the last update posted to his web site suggesting it is no longer being maintained.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1958A Night to RememberBoy jumping into waterUncredited
1959Carry On TeacherSchoolboyUncredited
1960A French MistressBaines
1961Spare the RodAngell
1962The Devil's AgentJohnny Droste
1962Play It CoolJoey
1963Summer HolidayEdwin
1966The IdolLewis
1969Las LeandrasRobert Wilson
1970HoffmanTom Mitchell
1970The Virgin and the GypsyLeo
1971Mary, Queen of ScotsAndrew
1973O Lucky Man!Young Man
1974Can You Keep It Up for a Week?Gil
1976Escape from the DarkGinger
1977The Spy Who Loved MeHMS Ranger Crewman
1980The Empire Strikes BackBoba Fett / Imperial officer
1981For Your Eyes OnlySmithersUncredited
1982Return of the EwokBoba FettVideo short
1983OctopussySmithers
1983Return of the JediBoba Fett
2003Advanced WarriorsMaxInteractive movie
2004'Jeremy BullochVideo
2005'Captain ColtonCameo
2006Order of the Sith: DownfallCommander MarucsShort
2006Night TravelerSir Logan the ProwlerVoice
2009TurpinSir GuyShort
2015Elstree 1976HimselfDocumentary

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1960Counter-Attack!Terry Benson7 episodes
1960The Chequered FlagMike Brown6 episodes
1961The Arthur Askey ShowUnknownEpisode: Pilbeam the Journalist
1961Billy Bunter of Greyfriars SchoolBob Cherry9 episodes, recurring role
1965Doctor Who: The Space MuseumTor3 episodes
1965–68The NewcomersPhillip Cooper46 episodes
1972Crown CourtDr Warner3 episodes
1972PathfindersRonnie Thompson2 episodes
1973Doctor Who: The Time WarriorHal4 episodes
1978The_Professionals_Denver1 episode; S1 E6 Where the Jungle Ends
1978George and MildredBill Allbright1 episode
1979–81AgonyRob Illingworth18 episodes
1981Only When I LaughGary1 episode; S3 E1 A Day in the Life Of
1983–85Robin of SherwoodEdward of Wickham8 episodes
1984–85ChockyLandis3 episodes
1985Jenny's WarSchroederTV movie
1987BoonInspector GowerEpisode; Fiddler Under the Roof
1989After HenryGeorgeEpisode; Memory Games
1989–93CasualtyRodney Mulligan / Peter Cunningham2 episodes
1992–96The BillDr Webster / Commander Bill Huxley3 episodes
1994FaithDavid ReckittTV mini-series, 4 episodes
1995DangerfieldSuperintendent JacklinEpisode: Death in Custody
1999AristocratsOlder George NapierTV mini-series, 2 episodes
2002SpooksRoger WelksAlso known as MI-5, Series 1, Episode 3
2004StarhykeDoctor Yul Striker6 episodes
2006–08DoctorsJulian Marker / Victor Hendon2 episodes
2008BonekickersMasked manEpisode: Follow the Gleam
2009DickieEpisode: Honour Bound
2009StarhykeDoctor Yul Striker6 episodes
2012Russell Howard's Good NewsHimself1 Episode – Mystery Guest Segment