Michael Leader (12 September 1938 – 22 August 2016) was an English actor known for his roles in the British television programmes, notably the soap opera ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...

'', and for a minor part in the 1977 film ''

Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and Cultural impact of Star Wars, quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop cu ...

''.

Life

Leader was born in

Hackney, London Hackney is a district in East London, England, forming around two-thirds of the area of the modern London Borough of Hackney, to which it gives its name. It is 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Charing Cross and includes part of the Queen ...

, in 1938. He was the son of the jazz band leader Harry Leader. Michael was married to a Dutch woman and became father of one daughter in 1975. In his spare time, he liked to be around in the Leyton Orient F.C. Stadium, as he was a fan of the team.

Career

Leader had a number of minor parts and appeared as an

extra Extra, Xtra, or The Extra may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * The Extra (1962 film), ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film * The Extra (2005 film), ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film Literature * Extra (newspaper), ...

in a range of television programmes. His debut film appearance was a minor role as an imperial stormtrooper in the original ''

'' film (1977). Although only on-screen for a matter of seconds, Leader's appearance has attracted particular interest in ''Star Wars'' fan culture as he has claimed to be the stormtrooper who bangs his helmeted head on a door frame in a scene on board the

Death Star The Death Star is a fictional space station and superweapon featured in the ''Star Wars'' space-opera franchise. Constructed by the autocratic Galactic Empire, the Death Star is capable of obliterating entire planets, and serves to enforce ...

. This was a

blooper A blooper, or gag reel, is short clip from a film, television program or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error made during a live radio or TV broadcast or ...

which was overlooked during editing and has remained part of the film ever since. A rival claim to the part of the "clumsy stormtrooper" has been made by fellow actor Laurie Goode, who has stated that it was he who bumped his head in the scene, not Leader. Leader's most substantial role was a recurring part as Michael the

milkman Milk delivery is a Delivery (commerce), delivery service dedicated to supplying milk, typically in milk bottle, bottles or cartons, to customers' homes. This service is performed by a milkman, milkwoman, or milk deliverer. (In contrast, a Cowman ...

in the BBC soap opera ''

'', a part he played since its first episode in 1985. The role was not a speaking part until the 1991 Christmas Eve episode when

Frank Butcher Frank Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Mike Reid (actor), Mike Reid. Frank makes his first appearance on-screen as a guest character in 1987, but due to a positive viewer reception, he is reintr ...

( Mike Reid) invites him into the B&B for a drink. Michael says "It's a bit early", and then has a small amount of dialogue with Frank. Leader also had minor appearances in the television programmes ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

'', ''

Red Dwarf A red dwarf is the smallest kind of star on the main sequence. Red dwarfs are by far the most common type of fusing star in the Milky Way, at least in the neighborhood of the Sun. However, due to their low luminosity, individual red dwarfs are ...

'', and ''

Keeping Up Appearances ''Keeping Up Appearances'' is a British sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke. It originally aired on BBC1 from 1990 to 1995. The central character is an eccentric and snobbish middle-class social climber, Hyacinth Bucket ( Patricia Ro ...

''. Leader died on 22 August 2016.

Filmography

As actor

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Leader, Michael English male film actors English male television actors 1938 births 2016 deaths Actors from the London Borough of Hackney Male actors from London People from Hackney Central