Richard Bonehill

{{short description|British actor and stuntsman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Richard Bonehill''' (c. 1948 – 4 February 2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/05/star-wars-character-actor-richard-bonehill-dies-67|title='Star Wars' character actor Richard Bonehill dies at 67|date=5 February 2015|work=ew.com|accessdate=21 December 2016|archive-date=9 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109195814/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/05/star-wars-character-actor-richard-bonehill-dies-67|url-status=dead}}</ref> was a British actor and stuntman with an expertise in swordsmanship.

==Career==

He played a number of different character extras in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'', most notably the alien Nien Nunb, a Stormtrooper, Tie Fighter pilot and more.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Alistair McGeorge|title=Star Wars actor Richard Bonehill dies aged 67|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/star-wars-actor-richard-bonehill-5114562|work=Mirror Online|accessdate=18 February 2016|date=6 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Beau Dure|title=Will fencing capitalize on the coolest part of Star Wars - the lightsaber?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/13/star-wars-lightsaber-fencing|work=The Guardian|accessdate=18 February 2016|date=13 January 2016|quote=The late British fencer Richard Bonehilll played several roles in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi}}</ref> Other films he worked on included ''Flash Gordon'' and ''Highlander''. His television credits included ''Doctor Who''.<ref name="IND">{{Cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/richard-bonehill-dead-star-wars-actor-who-played-alien-nien-nunb-dies-aged-67-10029088.html# |title=Richard Bonehill dead: Star Wars actor, who played alien Nien Nunb, dies aged 67|work=The Independent|date=6 February 2015|accessdate=6 February 2015}}</ref><ref name="WMN">{{Cite web | url=http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Swordsman-Star-Wars-veteran-dies-aged-67/story-25981361-detail/story.html |title=Expert swordsman and Star Wars actor dies aged 67|work=Western Morning News|date=5 February 2015|accessdate=6 February 2015}}</ref>

Bonehill was also a competitive fencer and fencing coach. He was crowned 2010 Veterans World Sabre Champion at the 14th World Veterans Fencing Championships held in Croatia. Before the final he was presented with a commemorative diploma from the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, the world governing body of fencing, to mark his 'extraordinary achievement' of representing Great Britain at 10 consecutive World Championships.<ref name="WMN"/><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Richard-crowned-world-champion/story-11390334-detail/story.html |title=Richard is crowned world champion|work=westbriton.co.uk|date=13 October 2010|accessdate=15 February 2015}}</ref>

==Death== Bonehill died on 4 February 2015. He was 67.<ref name="IND"/><ref name="WMN"/>

==Filmography==

===Film===

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes !! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |- | rowspan="2"| 1980 | ''The Empire Strikes Back'' || Stormtrooper / Snowtrooper / Corman Quien (Rebel Soldier) || Uncredited || <ref name="IND" /> |- | ''Flash Gordon'' || Extra || Uncredited || <ref name="IND" /> |- | 1983 || ''Return of the Jedi'' || Stormtrooper / Nien Nunb and various || Uncredited || <ref name="IND" /> |- | 1984 || ''Top Secret!'' || Scarecrow || || |- | 1986 || ''Highlander'' || Buck the Hotel Clerk || Uncredited || <ref name="IND" /> |- | 1995 || ''Rob Roy'' || Gutherie's Opponent || || |- | 2005 || ''Cold and Dark'' || Liposuction Surgeon || || |- | 2013 || ''Journals of Erwich'' || Euripides Eoghan || Short, (final film role) || |- |}

===Television===

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes !! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 1982-1986 || ''Doctor Who'' || Various || 11 episodes || <ref name="IND" /> |- | 1984-1986 || ''Robin of Sherwood'' || Driver/Swordsman || 2 episodes || |- | 1985 || ''Galloping Galaxies!'' || 2nd Gladiator || || |- | 1986 || ''Call Me Mister'' || Chauffeur || Episode: ''The Creative Accountant'' || |- | rowspan="2"| 1988 | '''Allo' Allo'' || German guard || 2 episodes || |- | ''The Bill'' || 1st Resident || Episode: ''The Silent Gun'' || |- | 1998 || ''Frenchman's Creek'' || Guillaume || TV movie || |- | 2000 || ''Jason and the Argonauts'' || Aertes 2nd General || TV mini-series || |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=nm0094246|name=Richard Bonehill}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160311144920/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bafca964b Richard Bonehill] BFI

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonehill, Richard}} Category:1949 births Category:2015 deaths Category:British stunt performers Category:British male fencers Category:20th-century British male actors