Michael Culver, known for his roles in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and James Bond, has died at the age of 85.

The British actor Michael Culver, who notably appeared in "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" and the James Bond film "Thunderbolt," has died at the age of 85.

"He was always up to the mark. He was one of those classic English actors who could play anything. He was really from the old school, always on time, always committed, always prepared. A true professional. The drama was always on stage and on screen only," said his agent Thomas Bowington to Sky News.

In the iconic film "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back," released in 1980, Michael Culver played the role of Lorth Needa, who served as a captain in the Imperial Navy before being killed by Darth Vader, "one of the most memorable death scenes in the franchise," according to a statement relayed by the British press.

"This role in Star Wars was one of the smallest he had ever played and yet it became one of the most important of his life," said Thomas Bowington.

In addition to "Star Wars," Michael Culver also appeared in several James Bond films such as "From Russia with Love" in 1963 and "Operation Thunderbolt" in 1965. Originally a stage actor, he made a name for himself on stage in numerous plays, including those by Shakespeare.

"While he largely gave up acting in movies in the early 2000s," according to the statement, the actor was also seen in several series such as "Secret Army," "Squadron," "The House of Eliott," or "Cadfael," in which he played the role of Brother Prior Robert.

He was also seen in "A Passage to India," a film by the British-American David Lean released in 1984, which was an adaptation of E. M. Forster's novel of the same name published in 1924.