Actor Richard Leparmentier has died at the age of 66.

The star passed away at his home in Austin, Texas on Monday (15Apr13).

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to British and Irish parents, LeParmentier moved to the U.K. in 1974, when he made his acting debut in David Essex film Stardust.

He went on to score small roles in more than 50 Tv shows and movies, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit and James Bond thriller Octopussy, alongside Sir Roger Moore as secret agent 007, and he co-starred with his former wife, British actress Sarah Douglas, in films such as Superman Ii, Rollerball and The People That Time Forgot.

He also found work as a screenwriter for British series The Bill, Boon and Love Hurts in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

However, LeParmentier will perhaps be best remembered for his part as Admiral Motti in Star Wars: Episode Iv: A New Hope, in which his character was famously choked to death by Darth Vader.

Douglas was alerted to her ex-husband's death by fans on Twitter.com and asked followers to keep her informed as news about LeParmentier emerged.

She writes, "Thank you for all the kind messages regarding the death of my ex husband Richard LeParmentier. I would be grateful to hear any details".

The couple divorced in 1984 after three years of marriage.