Bob Anderson - RIP

[Osmium Steele]

You may not know him, but you've seen him at work, and you've seen the results of his work with others. I first read about him in an Errol Flynn biography in '85 or '86. I've been a fan ever since.

Olympic fencer and movie sword master Bob Anderson appeared in some of film's most famous duelling scenes; though few viewers knew it.
Anderson, who has died at age 89, donned Darth Vader's black helmet and fought light sabre battles in two of the three original "Star Wars" films, "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi."
Anderson, who worked with actors from Errol Flynn to Antonio Banderas during five decades as a sword master, fight director and stunt performer, died early Sunday at an English hospital, the British Academy of Fencing said Monday.

SOURCE

I once heard him say that no actor ever matched Errol Flynn for swordsmanship, though Antonio Banderas was a close second, and may have had a better wrist.

Praise, indeed.

EDIT: Link fixed, sort of. Couldn't find the original, but this one is close. Thanks for the heads up, Steve.