Anthony Daniels (/ˈæntəni/ AN-tə-nee;[2] born 21 February 1946)[3] is an English actor and mime artist, best known for playing C-3PO in 11 Star Wars films.

He has appeared intermittently on British television in various dramas, including playing a pathologist in Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren.

[6] He was educated at Giggleswick School and studied law for two years at university, then dropped out to participate in amateur dramatics and attend Rose Bruford College.

After leaving the college in 1974, Daniels worked on BBC Radio and for the National Theatre of Great Britain at The Young Vic.

Whilst working in the theatre, he was invited to meet director George Lucas, who was casting for Star Wars.

[9][b] Daniels was depressed with his lack of recognition after the film's successful release; he attributes this to Lucasfilm wanting audiences to believe that the droids were real.

Daniels contributed the foreword to the collected scripts of the Return of the Jedi radio drama, as their author Brian Daley died while they were being recorded.

[9] Daniels attempted to puppeteer the character himself in the sequel, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, but after the script was changed, he returned to playing the droid in costume.

His character, Lieutenant Dannl Faytonni, appears in the nightclub scene early in Attack of the Clones as a man in blue uniform who can be seen in a cutaway reaction shot after Obi-Wan Kenobi disarms the bounty hunter Zam Wesell.

[23] Daniels reprised his role as C-3PO in the seventh Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, which was released in December 2015.

He has appeared intermittently on British television in various dramas, notably in a recurring role in Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren.