Richard LeParmentier

Richard LeParmentier (July 16, 1946 – April 15, 2013) was an American actor who lived and worked primarily in the United Kingdom, best known for his role as Admiral Motti in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and the acerbic police officer Lt. Santino in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). He is credited under several variations of his name, including Richard Parmentier, Rick Le Parmentier and Richard LeParmentiere.

Early life LeParmentier, born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States on July 16, 1946, grew up on a dairy farm. Mark Newbold, writing on the official Star Wars website, described the role as leaving "an indelible imprint on the Star Wars galaxy, helping to illustrate the fearsome powers of Lord Vader as well as the arrogance and malice of a bloated and over-confident Empire." LeParmentier had auditioned for the role of Han Solo, one of the film's main characters. The auditions for Star Wars were also used for Brian DePalma's Carrie and LeParmentier was cast as the high school principal in the latter. The film's production was delayed for nine months, so LeParmentier had to drop out of the role, with his role being recast to Stefan Gierasch. For Star Wars he was initially offered a two-line role as a "Mos Eisley bureaucrat named Montross." However, before production began, the character was ultimately omitted from the film. The following month LeParmentier was cast as Motti. At the time of his death, he was working on Motti Now, a parody of Apocalypse Now, featuring other Star Wars alumni such as Kenneth Colley, Jeremy Bulloch, Garrick Hagon and Jerome Blake. who is best known for playing the role of Ursa in Superman and Superman II. The two appeared in several films together, including Rollerball, The People That Time Forgot, and Superman II.

He had three children with his second wife, Cheryl Le Parmentier, whom he later divorced: Rhiannon (b. 1986), Stephanie and Tyrone. He was staying with them at the time of his death.

LeParmentier lived in Bath, Somerset, England. He died suddenly on April 15, 2013, while visiting his family in Austin, Texas, United States, aged 66.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1974 Stardust Felix Hoffman 1975 Rollerball Bartholomew's Aide 1977 Blind Man's Bluff Mr. Oliver Star Wars Admiral Motti The People That Time Forgot Lieutenant Whitby Valentino The Sheik 1979 The Music Machine Jay Reltano 1980 Silver Dream Racer Journalist Superman II Reporter 1981 Reds Man Drinking with Pete Van Wherry Uncredited 1983 Octopussy Lt. Col. Stewart 1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Lieutenant Santino 1992 The Berlin Conspiracy Colonel Gurnheim

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1977 Space: 1999 Ed Malcolm Episode: "Dorzak" 1978 Return of the Saint Demmell Episode: The Imprudent Professor Lillie Third Reporter Episode: America The One and Only Phyllis Dixey G.I. at Box Office TV film 1982 We'll Meet Again Captain Lester Carson 6 episodes 1987 London Embassy Al Sanger Episode: An Unofficial English Rose 1989 Screen Two Eddie Episode: Defrosting the Fridge 1989–1990 Capital City Lee Wolf 18 episodes

Video games Soldiers: Heroes of World War II (2004) (video game) (voice) - American Narrator