Entertainment
Star Wars Actor's Career Was Destroyed By A Bizarre Lie
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
While James Earl Jones provided the iconic voice for Darth Vader, it was bodybuilder David Prowse who actually wore the intimidating suit, using his prodigious height to absolutely terrify moviegoers around the world. Sadly, Prowse had an epic falling out with franchise creator George Lucas that began with the actor telling a bunch of fans in 1978 that Vader was Luke Skywalker’s father.
This led to Prowse getting iced out of the franchise that made him famous and even banned from official Star Wars conventions, but here’s the wild part: he had no idea what the plot of The Empire Strikes Back was going to be at the time, and he told fans a lie about Vader being Luke’s Daddy that ended up being true completely by accident!
The Force Was With Him
It all started in 1978, when over a thousand fans came to Berkeley to see David Prowse, who had become famous thanks to the success of the first Star Wars movie. He answered fan questions and told them when the second film would go into production and that it would be followed by another sequel. Of that third movie, Prowse proclaimed that Luke and Vader would square off in a “do-or-die lightsaber duel” and that “Father can’t kill son, son can’t kill father.”
In retrospect, this whole thing seems crazy; Prowse just casually spoiled the big plot twist of The Empire Strikes Back (Vader’s declaration of “I am your father!” to Luke Skywalker) two years before the movie came out. However, things aren’t actually that cut and dry. The sequel film was still being written at the time, so Prowse would literally have no way of knowing that Vader was Luke’s father.
His Lack Of Faith Disturbed George Lucas
Nonetheless, Prowse’s comments were published by The San Francisco Examiner. Surprisingly, the apparent spoilers for the next Star Wars movie didn’t travel very far, barely making a ripple in the fandom (man oh man, things were different before the internet!). Nonetheless, George Lucas resented Prowse for spilling the beans, and he took drastic measures on the set of the next film, including giving some Empire actors fake scripts to prevent leaks and even giving Prowse fake dialogue for the movie’s biggest scene.
You see, David Prowse didn’t actually say “I am your father” when filming this famous scene with Mark Hamill; he’d later claim that the line he was given was a fairly generic “come and join me and the Dark Side.” Hamill was told what the real line would be only right before they shot the scene, allowing him to properly emote. Prowse, meanwhile, had to find out alongside everyone else when he saw The Empire Strikes Back in theaters!
The Man Behind The Mask
The Darth Vader actor accidentally spoiling this big reveal two years earlier might have made George Lucas paranoid, but they didn’t have a proper falling out until production of Return of the Jedi. This was the movie where Vader would finally be unmasked, and David Prowse assumed he would be the man beneath the mask. In a truly bizarre twist, he wouldn’t discover otherwise until a journalist came to the gym and bluntly asked if the actor knew that he was getting killed off and that Sebastian Shaw would be playing the unnamed Vader, which he proved by examining Prowse’s call sheet.
This news was very upsetting to Prowse, but things went from bad to worse the very next day when The Daily Mail ran a story with the headline “Darth Vader to be killed off in the next movie, in an interview with David Prowse.” This caused George Lucas to believe Prowse had leaked another major spoiler to the press, and the actor later claimed that he was immediately “ostracized” on the set of Return of the Jedi, with both the producer and director refusing to work with him. Lucas stopped talking to him altogether over this, though Prowse has always maintained his innocence.
Still, being ignored by Lucas didn’t make Prowse any less popular with the fans, and he continued to make appearances at official Star Wars conventions. But in 2010, he appeared in The People vs. George Lucas, a documentary that severely criticized the creator of everyone’s favorite galaxy far, far away. That same year, Lucas officially cut any remaining ties with Prowse, and the actor was banned from attending official conventions.
David Prowse Gets Completely Removed From Star Wars
Before his death, David Prowse claimed he was never paid the residuals he was owed for Return of the Jedi, something which could possibly be a result of his epic falling out with Lucas. Because of this and the fact that his career was so irrevocably tied to Star Wars, the actor relied on fan conventions for most of his income. Official conventions like Star Wars Celebration helped him earn much of the money he needed to support himself and his wife, so getting banned from them was a severe financial blow.
However, Prowse might not have gotten banned from these conventions if Lucas didn’t still blame him for the press leak about Vader dying, and Lucas might not have so readily blamed Prowse for that if the actor hadn’t told a bunch of fans that Vader was Luke’s father way back in 1978. Prowse had no way of actually knowing that, however, and made up a complete fabrication that just happened to come true. In this way, a bizarre lie ended up completely ruining the career of the man behind the most famous villain in Hollywood history.
Entertainment
Nicole Kidman’s R-Rated Satire On Netflix Is A Masterclass In Manipulation
By Robert Scucci
| Updated
After watching Nicole Kidman’s Before I Go To Sleep on Netflix a couple weeks ago, I needed something that didn’t completely waste her talent. My search led me to 1995’s To Die For, which has such a stacked cast you’d think I was exaggerating if you didn’t check IMDb or Wikipedia yourself. Going as pitch black as a Gus Van Sant comedy can get, To Die For showcases Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Kurtwood Smith, Wayne Knight, Matt Dillon, and even David Cronenberg in a brief appearance.
It’s a fourth-wall-breaking film that works as a thriller, comedy, drama, and mockumentary all at once, rolled into a murder mystery centered on Nicole Kidman’s Suzanne Stone, a woman so obsessed with fame and fortune that she throws her entire life away when nobody around her sticks to the script.
Multiple Timelines Effortlessly Intersect
There are two narratives in To Die For that strip away any real sense of mystery from the premise. Through television interviews, we’re introduced to Suzanne Stone, who got off scot-free after her husband, Larry Maretto (Matt Dillon), was murdered. We know she’s involved, maybe even directly responsible, right off the rip, but that’s not what the film is interested in. Instead, we get a full character breakdown of Suzanne and her sociopathic commitment to becoming a TV star. We know Larry is dead, and we know she had something to do with it. The story then rewinds to show us how everything led up to those interviews, introducing everyone she crossed paths with along the way.
Desperate to become a world-famous TV correspondent, Suzanne grows resentful of her husband Larry, despite the fact that he gives up his band and focuses on work so he can support her dreams. The guy does a complete 180, even though he comes from a mob-connected family running multiple successful businesses. In other words, Larry was never a screwup, but he still buckles down when he falls in love with Suzanne because he wants the best for her. That contrast exists purely to show just how unhinged Suzanne is when it comes to chasing clout.
While Larry works his ass off, occasionally hinting that he’d like to start a family, Suzanne takes a job at WWEN, a local cable network, under the supervision of Ed Grant (Wayne Knight), who we learn through interviews is absolutely terrified of her. It’s one thing to be ambitious, but Suzanne is aggressively so, making most people rightfully suspicious of what she’s capable of, including Larry’s sister Janice (Illeana Douglas).
While working her way toward a weather girl position, Suzanne recruits naive high school students for a “Teens Speak Out” documentary she hopes will launch her career. She pulls in a troublemaker named Jimmy (Joaquin Phoenix), who immediately falls under her spell, along with Lydia (Alison Folland), who admires her, and Russell (Casey Affleck), who was basically forced to participate. With three teenagers eating out of the palm of her hand, Suzanne starts plotting how to get rid of Larry, who she believes is holding her back because he wants a traditional life she finds completely suffocating.
A Masterclass In Manipulation
If I had to compare Nicole Kidman’s Suzanne to anybody, it would be Reese Witherspoon’s Tracy Flick from Election. She’s beautiful, driven, and easily the most dangerous person you could cross paths with if you happen to be in her way of her goals. Suzanne’s ruthlessness is initially softened by how charming and driven she is when she makes her first impressions. When you apply that level of manipulation to a group of teenagers, it’s only a matter of time before they start doing exactly what you want. This dynamic comes to a head when Suzanne fully sinks her hooks into Jimmy.
But nobody here is innocent. Suzanne may be the mastermind who sets everything in motion, but everyone else is self-aware enough to know better. That’s where half the fun comes from. Jimmy might be infatuated, but he still makes his own choices. Suzanne sizes him up, offers him a version of the life he thinks he wants, and he goes along with it despite the consequences because he’s short-sighted and naive. It’s fascinating to watch because at any point, anyone in Suzanne’s orbit could have just said “nah” and walked away. But they don’t.
One of the more uniquely structured black comedies I’ve seen in a while, To Die For is equal parts morbid and hilarious. Every character is painfully short-sighted, and they all become worse versions of themselves the moment they fall for Suzanne’s tricks. And while you should hate Suzanne for being an objectively terrible person, you still end up rooting for her because she’s living life on her own terms, just in the most antisocial way possible.
To Die For is currently streaming on Netflix.
Entertainment
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 19, 2026
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition will be a little easier if you love baseball.
As we’ve shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections: Sports Edition?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication’s sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Mashable Top Stories
Here’s a hint for today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Here are today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: AL East Teams
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Green: First Words of Football Positions
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Blue: Premier League Managers
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Purple: Nicknames for the Dodgers Franchise, Over Time
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections: Sports Edition #573 is…
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
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AL East Teams — BLUE JAYS, ORIOLES, RAYS, YANKEES
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First Words of Football Positions — DEFENSIVE, RUNNING, TIGHT, WIDE
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Premier League Managers — EMERY, GUARDIOLA, MOYES, SLOT
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Nicknames for the Dodgers Franchise, Over Time — BRIDEGROOMS, DODGERS, ROBINS, SUPERBAS
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
Entertainment
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 19, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a sweet tooth.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
Mashable Top Stories
Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Lippy
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Green: Gowns
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Blue: Played in Vegas
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Purple: Sweet treats
Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: Cheeky
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Green: Dress measurements
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Blue: Cards in Texas Hold ‘Em
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Purple: Last words of candy brands in the singular
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections #1043 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
-
Cheeky: ARCH, FRESH, SASSY, WISE
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Dress measurements: BUST, HIPS, LENGTH, WAIST
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Cards in Texas Hold ‘Em: FLOP, HOLE, RIVER, TURN
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Last words of candy brands in the singular: CAP, DUD, KID, MINT
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today’s puzzle.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
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