Michael Leader

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Leader
grey-haired man in a padded coat
Michael Leader in EastEnders
Born12 September 1938
Hackney, London, England
Died22 August 2016(2016-08-22) (aged 77)
England
NationalityEnglish
OccupationActor
Known for
  • Star Wars (1977) — the "clumsy stormtrooper" (disputed)
  • EastEnders (1985–2016) — Michael the milkman

Michael Leader (12 September 1938 – 22 August 2016)[1][2] was an English actor known for his roles in the British television programmes, notably the soap opera EastEnders, and for a minor part in the 1977 film Star Wars.

Life[]

Leader was born in Hackney, London, in 1938.[3] He was the son of the jazz band leader Harry Leader.[4]

Michael was married to a Dutch woman and became father of one daughter in 1975.[citation needed]

In his spare time, he liked to be around in the Leyton Orient F.C. Stadium, as he was a fan of the team.[citation needed]

Career[]

Leader had a number of minor parts and appeared as an extra in a range of television programmes.

His debut film appearance was a minor role as an imperial stormtrooper in the original Star Wars film (1977). Although only on-screen for a matter of seconds, Leader's appearance has attracted particular interest in Star Wars fan culture as he has claimed to be the stormtrooper who bangs his helmeted head on a door frame in a scene on board the Death Star. This was a blooper which was overlooked during editing and has remained part of the film ever since.[5] A rival claim to the part of the "clumsy stormtrooper" has been made by fellow actor , who has stated that it was he who bumped his head in the scene, not Leader.[6]

Leader's most substantial role was a recurring part as Michael the milkman in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a part he played since its first episode in 1985. The role was not a speaking part until the Christmas Eve Episode in 1991 when Frank Butcher, Mike Reid (actor) invites him into the B&B for a drink. Michael says "It's a bit early", and has a small amount of dialogue with Frank after this.

Leader also had minor appearances in the television programmes Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, and Keeping Up Appearances.[7]

Leader died on 22 August 2016.[7]

Filmography[]

As actor[]

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Star Wars Stormtrooper Film, Uncredited
1980 Blake's 7 Rebel / Technician 2 episodes, Uncredited
1980–1983 Doctor Who Soldier / Mutant / Terileptil / Pangol Clone "The Leisure Hive" (1980); "The Visitation" (1982); "The King's Demons" (1983); "Mawdryn Undead" (1983)[4]
Uncredited
1992–2016 EastEnders Milkman / Michael Uncredited
16 episodes, (final appearance)
1991 Keeping Up Appearances Man near reception Episode: "Golfing with the Major"
1992 Red Dwarf Hooded Horde Episode: "Terrorform", Uncredited
2008 Harry Hill's TV Burp Slow Eastenders Extra Television series

References[]

  1. ^ Keast-Marriott, Andy (25 August 2016). "Michael Leader 1938-2016". Doctor Who News. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  2. ^ McGrath, Rachel (24 August 2016). "Michael Leader Dead: 'EastEnders' Team Pay Tribute Pay Tribute As Actor Who Played Milkman Dies". The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  3. ^ Lentz III, Harris M. (2017). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2016. McFarland. pp. 235–6. ISBN 9781476670317. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Keast-Marriott, Andy. "Michael Leader 1938-2016". Doctor Who News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  5. ^ Cooper, Gael Fashingbauer (26 August 2016). "Stormtrooper who bonked head in original Star Wars movie has died". CNET. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  6. ^ Parker, Ryan. "'Star Wars' Head-Banging Stormtrooper Explains the Classic Blunder". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Lindsay, Duncan (24 August 2016). "Cast pay tribute as EastEnders and Star Wars actor Michael Leader dies". Metro UK. Retrieved 10 September 2016.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""