Jimmy Vee

Last updated

Jimmy Vee
Jimmy Vee.jpg
Vee at Comic Con, Newcastle in 2016
Born (1959-02-03) 3 February 1959 (age 65)
OccupationActor
Years active2001–present
Height110 cm (3 ft 7 in)

James Vee (born 3 February 1959) is a Scottish [1] actor, puppeteer and stunt performer. He is best known for playing a number of Doctor Who monsters and aliens including Bannakaffalatta in the 2007 Christmas special Voyage of the Damned , as well as the Graske in the Doctor Who spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures . He is also well known as the actor for R2-D2 in Star Wars: The Last Jedi , replacing the late Kenny Baker, who died in August 2016.

Contents

Career

Vee started his career as a stunt double/performer for various small actors [2] and extras in films such as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone .

Vee also starred as Cheeky the dwarf in the King's Theatre, Glasgow adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves . [1]

Vee originally auditioned for R2-D2 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens , although filming clashed with Pan at the time and Vee was not used. In November 2015, he was cast as R2-D2 in Star Wars: The Last Jedi , succeeding Kenny Baker before his death in August 2016. [3] [4]

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone GoblinUncredited
2007 Skins: Secret Party DiggerShort film
2009Kilt ManMidget
2010 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey GoblinVideo
2014 The Hogwarts Express GoblinVideo
2014 Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts Gringotts GoblinVideo
2015 Pan Lofty
2017Dark AscensionEvil Dwarf
Star Wars: The Last Jedi R2-D2
2018Train SetRandy
Solo: A Star Wars Story Creature and droid puppeteer
2019 Rocketman Arthur
2020 Artemis Fowl Goblin (uncredited)
2022BiteDog Fight MC

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001 Weirdsister College The GargoyleEpisode: "The Gargoyle"
2005–2014 Doctor Who Moxx of Balhoon
Space Pig
Graske (multiple)
Bannakaffalatta
Skovox Blitzer
Episodes: "The End of the World"
"Aliens of London"
"Attack of the Graske"
"Voyage of the Damned"
"Music of the Spheres"
"The Caretaker"
2007–2010 The Sarah Jane Adventures Chris Slitheen
The Graske
Groske
Nathan Slitheen
Episodes: Revenge of the Slitheen
Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?
The Lost Boy
The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith
"From Raxacoricofallapatorius with Love"
The Gift
Death of the Doctor
2008 Music of the Spheres Graske Doctor Who interactive mini-series
2017 Trust Me Mr. KennedyEpisode #1.3
2022 The Witcher: Blood Origin Dwarf BankerS1:E2 "Of Dreams, Defiance, and Desperate Deeds"

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References

  1. 1 2 Lyons, Beverley (11 December 2015). "Scots actor Jimmy Vee hotly tipped to join Star Wars cast.. but admits he doesn't even know a light saber". Daily Record . Glasgow, Scotland: Trinity Mirror . Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  2. "Midlands MCM Expo - Sept '08 - Part 6 - Jimmy Vee 1 - YouTube". YouTube . Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  3. McEwan, Cameron K. (16 November 2016). "Doctor Who actor Jimmy Vee is the new R2-D2 in Star Wars Episode 8". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  4. Lawson, Nicola (13 August 2016). "Kenny Baker, actor behind R2-D2, dies". The Guardian . London, England. Retrieved 2 April 2018.