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'Star Wars' actor Andrew Jack dies at 76 from COVID-19 complications

Andrew Jack, who played Caluan Ematt in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" and was a dialect coach for "Lord of the Rings," died Tuesday after contracting coronavirus. Photo courtesy of Pixnio
Andrew Jack, who played Caluan Ematt in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" and was a dialect coach for "Lord of the Rings," died Tuesday after contracting coronavirus. Photo courtesy of Pixnio

April 1 (UPI) -- Andrew Jack, an actor who appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, has died at age 76.

Jack's agent, Jill McCullough, said in a statement that Jack died Tuesday at a hospital in Surrey, England, after contracting the COVID-19 virus.

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"Andrew was full of life -- he was tall and striking with flowing white hair, you wouldn't miss him if he walked into a room," McCullough said. "He loved his work and was funny, charming and a joy to be around."

McCullough said Jack's wife, Gabrielle Rogers, also a dialect coach, was unable to be with the actor at the time of his death, as she was in quarantine in Australia after flying in from New Zealand.

Rogers confirmed Jack's death on Twitter.

"We lost a man today. Andrew Jack was diagnosed with Coronavirus 2 days ago. He was in no pain, and he slipped away peacefully knowing that his family were all 'with' him," she wrote.

Jack played Caluan Ematt in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, and served as a dialogue coach on The Lord of the Rings movies, Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers films. Prior to his death, he was working on The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson.

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Greg Grunberg, who plays "Snap" Wexley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, paid tribute to Jack in a tweet Tuesday.

"Devastated to hear of the passing of the wonderful, talented, beloved gentleman #AndrewJack. He is one of the kindest people I've ever worked with. Please stay safe. Please stay home!!! #RIPAndrewJack," the actor wrote.

Sean Astin, who portrays Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings movies, also honored Jack on Twitter, describing him as "powerful & gentle in equal measure," "funny" and "brilliant."

Jazz singer Manu Dibango, actor Mark Blum, playwright Terrence McNally, country singer Joe Diffie and comedian Ken Shimura are among the other stars who have died from coronavirus.

Notable deaths of 2020

Richard Thornburgh
Richard "Dick" Thornburgh, former attorney general of the United States and former governor of Pennsylvania, takes a seat at the witness hearing after U.S. Chief Justice nominee Judge John Roberts testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on September 15, 2005. Thornburgh died on December 31 at age 88. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo

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