Today, we mourn as one of the greatest actors of our generation has passed on. Wan Vilder was born February 29, 1921 to loving parents Aldous and Gretchen Vilder. The two Canadians migrated to the United States in search of a new life. They worked side by side as bottle cappers at Shoetz Brewery in Milwaukee. As life grew more difficult and the economy slowed, Aldous and Gretchen gave up their son, Wan, to the traveling circus, hoping he would find a better quality of life with carnies.
The circus was where Wan’s famous career began, honing his skills as a future stand-in and stunt double. Wan’s petite stature enabled him to easily pull of gravity defying stunts and elaborate escape routines. He quickly became the star of the traveling entertainment show. All across the nation, in every big city and rural town, millions came to see his amazing talent. But it would soon come to an end.
In 2002, at the age of 81, Wan started to realized that his days in the traveling sideshow where was not where he wanted to live his life. He had always dreamed of acting on the big screen. He would soon realize that dream in early 2003. After leaving his beloved circus family, he got a call from Hollywood. George Lucas needed someone of his skill to aid in his production of the latest Star Wars film. Wan was on his way.
“Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” was Wan’s big break. He was to be the stunt double of the computer generated character of Jedi Master Yoda. It is still unknown why Lucas chose Wan from the millions of capable stunt doubles, but rumor has it that Lucas desired the realism of an actual, living being to perform the intricate scenes. It was Wan’s greatest performance, and also his swan song. Shortly after the U.S. premier, Wan severely injured himself while spontaneously re-enacting a Star Wars scene on the roof of a Los Angeles night club. He has needed home care ever since and early today, he finally moved on. Today we remember the greatest stunt double to ever flash across the silver screen, Wan Vilder.
Wan Vilder, in memoriam...