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Jason Wingreen, the original actor to provide the voice for bounty hunter "Boba Fett" in Empire Strikes Back, passed away at his Los Angeles home on December 25th.  He was 95.

The Brooklyn-born actor began his career in the late 1950's making memorable appearances on the breakthrough television show Twilight Zone, as well as many other classic shows, including General Hospital, Outer Limits, All in the Family and it's spinoff Archie Bunker's Place.  On the big screen, Wingreen appeared in the comedies Airplane! and Oh God! You Devil.

In addition to his work in television and film, Wingreen was one of the founders of the original Circle in the Square Theatre in Greenwich Village in 1951. 

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Wingreen as the train conductor in the Twilight Zone episode "A Stop at Willoughby"

Although Wingreen is remembered for providing the menacing voice of the galaxy's most feared bounty hunter, few fans know his agent had originally brought him in to audition for the role of Yoda, which ultimately went to legendary Henson puppeteer Frank Oz.  Despite not being hired for the role for which he originally auditioned, Wingreen impressed the powers that be at Lucasfilm.

"They did like my reading and at that time they needed to have the original actor who played Boba replaced because he was an Englishman and had a very-very British Accent.  That was Jeremy Bulloch" Wingreen explains during a private signing some years ago.  "They needed someone who's voice was a bounty hunter voice."

"They sent me down to a sound stage in Hollywood.  I met Gary Kurtz, the producer and Irvin Kershner, the director of Empire Strikes Back" Wingreen continues. "Then they showed me on a screen the footage of the scenes I would do the voice for.  I didn't have to lip sync because he's wearing a mask.  Kershner gave me a point or two that he wanted me to change on the reading, and we recorded it.  I would say seven minutes of work total.  Seven minutes to do it all."

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Video Credit: Youtube subcriber Andy Luk

Wingreen was known to Star Wars autograph collectors as a generous through-the-mail signer.  There are 161 documented TTM successes from Wingreen on the Star Tiger Autograph Community website since 2000 to only one "Return to Sender" (2001.)  I personally sent autograph requests to Mr. Wingreen on two occassions, once in 2013 and again in 2014.  The pieces were signed and returned to me in 8 and 9 days respectively. 

In addition to sending items back quite quickly, Wingreen was also known to occassionally include a hand-written note to fans with their autographs. I was not one of the fortunate people to receive a letter, but here are a few such examples.

Ian Trussler

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Eric LeBlanc

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Ben Flesher

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Paul Altman

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Letter courtesy of Paul Altman via Star Tiger

 

 

Appreciative Fans Remember Jason Wingreen

Andy Luk

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We lost a great guy in Jason Wingreen. One of the nicest people I have ever met. I know you are up in heaven having scotch with all the Red Sox greats! Rest in Peace.

Steve Grad

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Saddened to hear of the passing of my friend Jason Wingreen (**photo taken in August of 2004) who passed away on Christmas Day. Jason, welcomed me and my family into his home many times. Besides being the voice of Boba Fett, he was a great guy. May you rest in peace my friend ‪#‎bobafett‬ ‪#‎starwars‬

Threpio's Autograph Collection

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Sad news learned today that Jason Wingreen the voice of Boba Fett died on Christmas day. One of the best TTM people i have ever known and even sent me a letter last time explaining that he was very old and it was hard work getting an envelope as i had forgot to put one in the package.

Boba Fett Fan Club

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Jason Wingreen was the original voice of ‪#‎BobaFett‬. We just learned he passed away on December 25, 2015. This is our tribute to him. Anyone who saw "The Empire Strikes Back" in theaters or on VHS/laserdisc between 1980 and 2003 would have heard his lines. After 2004, DVD and Blu-ray releases were re-dubbed to conform to the prequels and used Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett. Jason was born October 9, 1920. He was interviewed for Star Wars Insider #49 (May/June 2000) in which he shared this story of the role: "My agent called me and said to go over to the recording studio, where I met Gary Kurtz and Irvin Kershner. Normally, you see the face of an actor you're dubbing, so you have to lip-synch. But that was no problem here — I could say the lines at any time. I got in position, they ran the film a few times, and I said the lines. Kershner came out and made a suggestion or two and went back in the control room, I did it again, and I was finished."