Kenny Baker began his career in show business not as a film actor, but as a stage performer. In his youth, he performed in circuses and fairs as part of dance and comedy troupes, where his small height (112 cm) helped him stand out.

His height, which could have been an obstacle in normal life, opened the doors to the film industry for him: in 1976, he was invited to play R2-D2 in “Star Wars.”

The mechanisms in the robot suit were imperfect at the time, and an actor was needed—small, flexible, and with acting talent.

Baker was a perfect fit. Thanks to his role as R2-D2, he became a global symbol—even though his face was almost never seen on screen.

Kenny Baker was married to Yvonne Baker, who, like him, was a person of short stature.

Their shared height and life circumstances brought them very close: Kenny said that they understood each other perfectly and supported each other during difficult times.

Kenny and Yvonne had two children. Interestingly, both of their children were born with a normal height, meaning they didn’t inherit their parents’ dwarfish traits.

This happens because not all forms of dwarfism are necessarily inherited: much depends on the type of genetic mutation.

Yvonne passed away in 1993 after a long illness, and her death was a heavy blow to Kenny. After her passing, he never remarried. In 2016, Kenny also left this world at the age of 82.