Angus MacInnes Death ~ Angus MacInnes, the actor best known for his role as Gold Leader Jon “Dutch” Vander in *Star Wars: A New Hope*, passed away on Dec. 23 at the age of 77, according to a statement from his family posted Monday on his official Facebook page.
The announcement did not disclose the cause of death.
“With breaking hearts, we write this: Angus MacInnes, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and actor, died on Dec. 23, 2024,” the statement read.
MacInnes’ family highlighted his long and varied career, which included roles in iconic films like *Witness*, *Judge Dredd*, *Hellboy*, and *Captain Phillips*.
“His work touched countless lives, and he took great pride in being part of these stories that continue to resonate with audiences worldwide,” the statement continued.
The family also noted MacInnes’ deep appreciation for *Star Wars* fans, saying they “held a special place in his heart.”
“He loved meeting you at conventions, hearing your stories, and sharing in your passion for the saga. He was continually humbled, delighted, and honored by the admiration and passion of the fans and convention community,” they wrote.
“Angus was more than an actor—he was a kind, thoughtful, and generous soul who brought warmth and humor into the lives of everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and fellow actors, but also by his fans around the world.”
Fans flooded social media with tributes following the news of his passing.
“I had the privilege of getting to know Angus personally, for which I am very grateful. RIP, Gold Leader,” one admirer wrote on Facebook.
Another shared, “So sorry for your loss. I had the honor of meeting him back in 2002 or so and often interacted on his posts. He was very kind. I will raise a glass to Gold Leader, on his wing.”
A third fan reflected, “[I] had the pleasure of meeting [A]ngus many times at cons. He was such a lovely man. RIP.”
Born on Oct. 27, 1947, in Ontario, Canada, MacInnes earned enduring fame for his portrayal of the Rebel Alliance’s Y-wing squadron commander.
In a 2014 interview with *The Telegraph*, he recounted his memorable experience on the *Star Wars* set and his struggles with memorizing lines during filming.
“I got into the cockpit to do this scene, and George [Lucas] said, ‘Have you learned your lines out of sequence?’ and I said, ‘What are you talking about?’” MacInnes recalled.
Lucas had expected him to deliver his lines without cues, which left the actor flustered. “It turned into a s—storm because I couldn’t remember anything without the cues. I started sweating; buckets,” he said, laughing at the memory.
Eventually, he resorted to taping pieces of the script around the cockpit, jokingly noting, “There’s no performance at all. It’s just reading lines. I thought, ‘I don’t care. I’ve just got to get out of here.’”
Despite the challenges, MacInnes’ portrayal as Gold Leader became iconic, cementing his place in cinematic history. His warmth, humor, and generosity will be remembered by colleagues, friends, and fans alike.
Angus MacInnes Death