The Velvet Admiral
This week the Star Wars community bids farewell to a much-loved friend. On April 15 Richard
LeParmentier, Admiral Motti from A New Hope, became one with the Force. To anyone who attended
conventions Richard was the upbeat and always-friendly celebrity who was ready with a smile and a
conversation. It didn’t matter who you were, the Admiral always made time for the fans.
Outside the convention scene Richard was a widely-traveled and fascinating renaissance man
and was always ready with a tale from his storied career. He was a little of everything: a prolific
writer, a self-styled cook, a connoisseur of worldwide cuisine, a fan of the French game of
Petanque. Richard was fond of sending close friends smatterings of his work from a variety of
different genres: from period dramas to buddy comedies to corporate espionage thrillers. A
veteran of screenwriting, he had a unique voice in telling compelling stories.
Richard had a passion for food and fine wine. His visits to the European conventions were a
favorite of his. The hospitality of 501st members is famous so to enjoy that and at the same time
enjoy fine wine and great food meant Richard was in his element. He was also a mean cook.
Leon Clarence, a close friend of Richard’s and a member of the 501st UK Garrison, recounts a
tale when his company travelled to Bath and Richard insisted on putting them up at a friend’s
boutique hotel (which had not even opened yet), then proceeded to wait up for them after their
company function just to keep the bar open for his friends. The next morning he said “you know
what guys, as it’s just you here, why don't you come back into the kitchen and I'll rustle up
breakfast”.
A classically trained actor, his other roles in sci-fi included Space: 1999 and Rollerball. His role
in Star Wars launched him into the Hollywood social circle of his day. Listening to him after
hours, so many names rolled off of his tongue – Nicholson, Reeve, the real legends of the time,
all first-name terms during his heyday. To hear him tell it, the 80's sounded like the time to be
alive. It reminded one that you were in the presence of a real Hollywood star. The role he was
famous for was actually a relatively small part, but it was in arguably the biggest one-off
franchise in the world. As a result he was instantly recognizable wherever he went.
Richard started a development incubator called 3 Rivers Productions in his adopted home of
Bath. Leon recounts a time when he travelled down to Bath for an enjoyable development
meeting, which started in a private meeting room and descended to the restaurant below. Over
lunch they spotted the wine merchant with two cases of sample bottles for the restaurant owner.
A cheeky offer to help sample the wines ended with them drinking the entire sample case
between them.
Richard was a loving father to three great kids: Rhiannon, Steph and Tyrone. Ty was a regular
companion of his on the convention circuit. Richard was a doting father and would go anywhere
to see his them, often just for an hour or two, travelling across the UK and then lately to Texas
just to be around them whenever he had the chance.
When health issues became a factor in Richard’s life no one knew about it, he was a private man
in that regard. But his treatment led to a remarkable recovery that set him on the path pouring his
energy into writing and other pursuits. And when his fellow Star Wars actor and friend Jerome
Blake was diagnosed with cancer, Richard was a constant cheerleader and supporter, always
checking in on him and offering his support. For Richard, it was not uncommon for him to ask
after his many friends worldwide. He was always asking about my daughter Katie while she was
suffering from brain cancer. If asked had the Admiral gone soft on charity, he would quip back
“It’s not charity when you’re helping your friends”.
Brent Manchester was a close friend of Richard’s in England. He remembered the man who
loved his movies, his food, and his holiday parties:
“I well remember Christmas 2007. We demolished a Dickensein feast of roast beef and roast
pork with all the trimmings whilst watching Bad Santa which Richard had brought with him.
What Christmas film should we now watch? We went through my DVD collection and watched
all our favorite bits: the beach attack from Saving Private Ryan, the Kirk Douglas “I am
Spartacus Speech”, the frigate attack from Master and Commander, the list went on and so did
we. A 4pm start and a 4am finish - one of the best Christmases I’ve ever had. Then there was the
time we organized a 200th Anniversary Dinner to celebrate the Battle of Trafalgar with local
restaurateur David Price. An evening of dining officers and dancing on tables!!”
Cathy Bowden remembers Richard fondly from the convention scene. As a former director of the
Star Wars track for DragonCon, she recalls the day she was helping out in VIP Registration the
first year he came. "Ah, you are the infamous Cathy Bowden I've been hearing about,” he said,
looking at her name tag. “I’m all set. Want to grab a beer?”
My favorite memory of Richard as in 2003 when the Legion’s Trooper Groupies made their
debut. Dressed in white mini-skirts and hats boasting troopers’ TK numbers, they were the
cheerleaders for the Empire. When Richard met them he grabbed one of their caps for himself,
announced that they were now “Motti’s Angels”, and whisked them off to accompany him
around the con.
That’s just how he was. Richard never knew a stranger. Every fan, every guest, every person he
met he treated like a longtime friend. When you were with Richard he made you feel like a part
of the crew, an old hand at the game, a regular guy or gal. If he saw kids in his line, he was ready
with a free autograph. If a fan wanted to play up the “Vader choke” scene, Richard never
considered it beneath him.
Richard was and always will be the fan’s best friend, a bright spot in the fan galaxy, and a credit
to the family of people who have formed in the Star Wars community.
We’ll miss you, Admiral.