One of the men behind Stars Wars villain Darth Vader has died.

Bob Anderson, an Olympic fencer, film swordsman, fight director and stunt performer passed away at 89 in his native United Kingdom. The AP reports the British Academy of Fencing confirms his Jan. 1 death.

Working with famous players such as Errol Flynn and Antonio Banderas, Anderson's most famous scenes were done nearly anonymously in the Star Wars franchise. He dueled with light sabers in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Anderson was just one third of Vader. James Earl Jones provided the husky voice over, while former weightlifter David Prowse provided the imposing six foot six figure when Vader wasn't involved in a complicated fight scene.

Before taking on film work, Anderson served in Britain's Royal Marines during World War II, teaching fencing aboard ships while stationed in the Mediterranean. He went on to represent the country in the 1952 Olympics and the 1950 and 1953 fencing world championships.

In the last decade, he worked as sword master on the set of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

He's survived by a wife and three children.

Hollywood Reporter