Michael Pennington, the English actor, director and writer who co-founded the English Shakespeare Company, died on May 10, 2026, aged 82.
Born in Cambridge on June 7, 1943, he was known on screen for his role as Moff Jerjerrod in Return of the Jedi and also appeared in Hamlet. With director Michael Bogdanov, he founded the English Shakespeare Company in 1986 and served as its joint artistic director until 1992.
Pennington wrote ten books, directed in the UK, the US, Romania and Japan, and was an Honorary Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Michael Pennington, 82, English actor (Return of the Jedi, Hamlet), cofounder of the English Shakespeare Company. (death announced on this date)