Alfie Curtis Facts: 'Star Wars: A New Hope' Actor Dead Aged 87

Alfie Curtis, the actor who was best known for playing Dr. Cornelius Evazan in “Star Wars: A New Hope,” has died at the age of 87 years. The news of his death was first reported Tuesday by Jedi News.

Curtis did not have a large role in the first Star Wars film, but his character was a memorable part of the well-known Mos Eisley Cantina scene, speaking his famous dialogue addressed to Luke Skywalker saying he had “the death sentence on 12 systems!”

Evazan’s background was not explored any further in detail in the film series, however, it was revealed that Evazan was once a plastic surgeon that ended up harming his patients rather than helping them.

Curtis' character's name might also not immediately ring a bell, however fans who follow the “Star Wars” movie series might as well know that Curtis’ character has the distinction of being one of the first characters, who was responsible for antagonizing the characters Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Mos Eisley Cantina scene. While Luke was trying to purchase a beverage in the scene, he accidentally collided with a negative character called “Ponda Baba,” forcing Evazan to interfere and then inform Luke that he was deemed to be so dangerous that he had a death sentence on 12 systems.

Curtis’ character might not have earned much screen time, but several books and extended universe materials were responsible for fleshing out the character's terrifying backstory.

It was also revealed about the character that Evazan reportedly found an affinity for "creative surgery," during his training to become a doctor. The character Evazan gained a reputation in the series for his disfiguring ways, which led him into conflict with a bounty hunter. Rather than killing Evazan, the bounty hunter provided the doctor a taste of his own medicine and disfigured him.

In addition to his role as Evazan, Curtis starred in several British TV series namely “Ted” in 1986's television miniseries “Lost Empires,” “Larry Grayson,” and “Matt Beckett” on the 1980-1981 television series “Cribb.”

Born in Stepney, London in 1930, Curtis began acting since 1973, when he made his debut on the “Bowler” television series. His long-drawn acting career also included a role in 1980’s David Lynch’s “The Elephant Man,” where Curtis played the Milkman, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

In 2016’s “Star Wars” movie, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the legend of Evazan and Ponda Baba continued when the characters named “Jyn Erso” and “Cassian Andor” briefly encountered the pair on Jedha.

On Tuesday, Mark Hamill, who plays the role of “Skywalker” in the film, tweeted Curtis would "be missed."

"Alfie Curtis made the #Star Wars Mos Eisley Cantina scene (one of the most memorable I've ever been a part of) even MORE memorable. As horrific as he was on-camera, off-camera he was funny, kind & a real gentleman. Thanks, Alf- you'll be missed. #RIP," he wrote.