![The weightlifter-turned-actor was the body, though not the voice, of Darth Vader in Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) [File: Thierry Zoccolan/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/000_8W47UW.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
British actor who played arch-villain Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy passed away after a short illness.
Cinema
![Connery won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1987 for his role in The Untouchables [File: Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-10-31T124115Z_679962323_RC2OTJ9DV7LF_RTRMADP_3_PEOPLE-CONNERY.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
‘Proud Scot’ immortalised 007 in films including Dr No and Goldfinger.
![The first Borat movie, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, was released in 2006 and elicited criticism from government officials [File: David Gray/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-10-21T175239Z_1611493885_RC25NJ9CNHKU_RTRMADP_3_FILM-BORAT-2.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
While the movie is a satire on American culture, not everyone in Kazakhstan has appreciated the joke.
![Tamil politicians in India accuse Muralitharan, who retired from Test cricket in 2010, of betraying fellow Tamils during Sri Lanka's civil war [File: Tim Chong/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2012-10-13T120000Z_1421972155_GM1E8AD11V401_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-LANKA-MURALITHARAN.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Vijay Sethupathi withdraws from the project after cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan warns him of...
![A worker disinfects seats at an INOX cinema hall in preparation for the reopening of cinema halls in Mumbai [Divyakant Solanki/EPA]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/h_56418636.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
After seven-month blackout, theatres to reopen on the day India sees lowest single-day deaths in almost three months.
![Gadot is known for her public support of the Israeli army and previously served as a soldier for two years [File: Jordan Strauss]](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/8206898e62d5417ca9a32d721bc62956_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Many accuse Hollywood of whitewashing and wonder whether Cleopatra should be played by an actress of colour.
![Takeuchi was a household name in Japan and had given birth to her second child in January [File: Thomas Peter/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2015-10-22T000000Z_714018660_GF20000027914_RTRMADP_3_JAPAN-ENTERTAINMENT.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Yuko Takeuchi’s death comes close on the heels of recent cases of other Japanese celebrities taking their own lives.
![Actress Deepika Padukone at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in France [File: Regis Duvignau/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2018-05-11T183932Z_909883718_UP1EE5B1FTWMI_RTRMADP_3_FILMFESTIVAL-CANNES-ASH-IS-PUREST-WHITE.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Top actress questioned by the narcotics agency that is probing the film industry’s alleged links with drug peddlers.
![The Academy Awards ceremony has been delayed eight weeks, to April, 2021 because of the coronavirus [Mark Ralston/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ea2edeb73a4a4b09b7a03c544f28bb34_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences publishes new rules that filmmakers will have to meet starting 2024.
![Concessions stand workers stock the bins with popcorn and other treats as the theatre opens for some of the first showings at the AMC theatre in West Homestead, Pennsylvania [AP Photo/Keith Srakocic]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/55ff05379d054e8095a4bc5d6749f6b0_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
More Americans will head back to the movies this weekend than any other since the pandemic shuttered cinemas in March.
![A customer searches for Kannywood-made Hausa films, popular among residents of northern Nigerian city of Kano [File: Amin Abubakar/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/0853bdbd7baf4f7f91fe5b182500ddcf_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The Nigerian film industry’s online streaming platform Northflix doubles subscribers among 80 million Hausa speakers.
![Actress Yifei Liu, right, and director Niki Caro at the European premiere of Mulan in London [File: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/7f727cc4b7f34272b35dde9830e59d41_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
As US theatres remain shut, Mulan debut pushed back indefinitely; Avatar, Star Wars postponed amid production delays.
![Actress Ragaa El-Gedawy attending the 8th Annual Dubai International Film Festival in this 2011 photo [File: Andrew H Walker/Getty Images]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/dbbecb9ab9b7410a8ce2003718094bfc_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Popular 81-year-old actress was in quarantine after testing positive for the new coronavirus, state media reported.
Coronavirus has closed movie theatres and prompted Oscars organisers to change eligibility rules and delay awards show.