10 Major Movie Recastings You Didn't Even Notice
2. Ian McDiarmid As Emperor Palpatine - Return Of The Jedi
Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid is a former Shakespearean actor and the recipient of both a Tony and an Olivier Award. But most people know him as the guy that shouts "Do it!" in Revenge of the Sith.
McDermid has played Emperor Palpatine in all three of the Star Wars trilogies, but his first "appearance" as the hooded leader of the Galactic Empire did not happen as early as some people think.
The actor was retrospectively cut into hologram conversations with Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back. This was for the 2004 DVD release of the film and is just one of the many tweaks George Lucas has made to his creations over the years. And the fans love him for it...
A woman named Marjorie Eaton, a 79-year-old former painter, provided Palpatine's face in the original film. She was heavily made up, had chimpanzee eyes superimposed over her own, and was voiced by Clive Revill, who got a credit in the film instead of her.
By the time The Emperor needed to appear in his full form, McDiarmid was already signed on. However, Eaton's contribution to the film should not be overlooked, especially considering she wasn't even acknowledged for it at the time.