Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
June 7, 1943
Died
May 10, 2026 (age 82)
Place of Birth
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
Also Known As
Michael Vivian Fyfe Pennington
Michael Pennington
Biography
Michael Vivian Fyfe Pennington (June 7, 1943 - May 10, 2026) was a British director and actor who, together with director Michael Bogdanov, founded the English Shakespeare Company. Although primarily a stage actor, he is best known to wider audiences for his role as Moff Jerjerrod, commanding officer of the Death Star in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and as Michael Foot in The Iron Lady, opposite Meryl Streep.
Michael Pennington: Our King Lear
VideoKnown For
TV
Father Brown
Bishop Reynard
2013
TV
Silent Witness
Dennis Morgan
1996
TV
BBC Play of the Month
St Just
1965
TV
BBC Play of the Month
Alexei Turbin
1965
TV
Lewis
Dr. Melville
2007
TV
Waking the Dead
Prof Alan Macintosh
2001
TV
The Wednesday Play
Geoffrey Cromlech
1964
TV
Endeavour
Professor Donald Bagley
2013
TV
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Martin
1965
TV
No Hiding Place
1959
TV
ITV Playhouse
Lancelot Wishart
1967
TV
Theatre 625
Wulfnoth
1964
TV
Theatre 625
Alexander
1964
TV
Playhouse
John Lilburne
1974
TV
Dalziel and Pascoe
Hartley Culpepper
1996
TV
Raised by Wolves
The Trust (voice)
2020
Film
Return of the Jedi
Moff Jerjerrod
1983
TV
ScreenPlay
Thomas Kyd
1986
TV
Between the Lines
1992
TV
BBC2 Play of the Week
E1A
1977
Filmography
2022TVDans les secrets des films Star Warsas Narrator ( Voice)2021FilmManik da: The Mystique of Pather Panchalias Narrator (voice)2020TVRaised by Wolvesas The Trust (voice)2015Film1945: The Savage Peaceas Narrator (voice)2014FilmSecrets of the Universe: Great Scientists in Their Own Wordsas Narrator (Voice)2013FilmRSC Live: Richard IIas John of Gaunt2013TVThe Escape Artistas Judge2013TVEndeavouras Professor Donald Bagley2013TVFather Brownas Bishop Reynard2011FilmThe Iron Ladyas Michael Foot2009TVThe Lost World of Communism2008FilmAirborne: The RAF at 90as Narrator - (Voice)2008FilmFlorence Nightingaleas Wen2007TVLewisas Dr. Melville2005FilmFragileas Marcus2004TVEmpire Warriorsas Narrator2003FilmColosseum - Rome's Arena of Deathas Narrator (UK version) (voice)2003TVState of Playas Richard Siegler2002FilmThe Dinosaur Huntersas William Buckland2002FilmPyramidas Narrator (voice)2001TVDr Terrible's House of Horribleas Priest2001TVWaking the Deadas Prof Alan Macintosh1996FilmCracker: White Ghostas Commander Gordon Ellison1996TVDalziel and Pascoeas Hartley Culpepper1996TVSilent Witnessas Dennis Morgan1994FilmThe Last Bolshevikas Self (voice: English version)1994FilmDegas and Pissario Fall Outas Degas1992TVBetween the Lines1991TVIn My Defenceas Franz Jagerstatter1991FilmRichard IIas Richard II1991FilmHenry IV: Part 1as Prince Henry of Wales1991FilmHenry IV: Part 2as Henry Prince of Wales1991FilmHenry Vas King Henry V1991FilmHenry VI: House of Yorkas Jack Cade1991FilmHenry VI: House of Lancasteras Earl of Suffolk1991FilmRichard IIIas Duke of Buckingham1989TVSummer's Leaseas Hugh Pargeter1987FilmThe Return of Sherlock Holmesas Sherlock Holmes1986FilmTheban Plays: Oedipus the Kingas Oedipus Rex1986FilmThe Marlowe Inquestas Thomas Kyd1986TVScreenPlayas Thomas Kyd1985FilmForbidden Passion: The Oscar Wilde Movie1984FilmThe Mayor of Montemiloneas Narrator1984TVItaliansas Narrator1984TVFreudas Carl Jung1984TVPlaying Shakespeare1984FilmWaving to a Trainas Richard1983FilmCymbelineas Posthumus1983FilmReturn of the Jedias Moff Jerjerrod1982FilmOutside Edgeas Bob1981FilmA Last Visitor for Mr. Hugh Peteras John Lilburne1978FilmDanton's Deathas Saint-Just1978FilmMr and Mrs Bureaucratas E1A1977TVBBC2 Play of the Weekas E1A1977FilmIt's Only Rock 'n' Rollas Don Harris1976FilmThe Witches of Pendleas Minister1974TVPlayhouseas John Lilburne1972TVNo Exitas Ian Strawson1970FilmThe Dolly Sceneas Tom1970FilmMad Jack1969FilmHamletas Laertes1969TVW. Somerset Maughamas Hans1968FilmThe Tycoonas Peter Bell1968TVThe Root of All Evil?as Clive Pinner1967TVITV Playhouseas Lancelot Wishart1967TVCallan1965TVBBC Play of the Monthas St Just1965TVThirty-Minute Theatreas Martin1965TVPublic Eyeas John Sheldon1964TVThe Wednesday Playas Geoffrey Cromlech1964TVTheatre 625as Wulfnoth1961TVDrama 61-67as First youth1959TVNo Hiding Place1956TVArmchair Theatreas Adrian