Darth Vader actor in hospital

Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse, who is suffering from partial paralysis, has been taken to hospital after his condition worsened and he lost the use of his legs, it emerged today.

Doctors have now diagnosed an abscess at the base of the former champion body-builder's spine, and are currently carrying out tests before operating.

The actor lost the use of his arm in February after being struck with a mystery illness, but had been recovering and regaining weight.

But his spokesman Phil Day said today: 'He's looking very gaunt and very thin. Things aren't looking too good.'

The star - who played Vader in the early Star Wars movies, but did not provide the voice - had a relapse last week and was taken to Croydon's Mayday Hospital on Friday.

'He was confined to bed for two or three days because he was unable to walk or even move his legs,' said Mr Day. 'I spoke to him on Thursday and he told me he could not move and then he was taken to hospital the following day.

'The doctors found the abscess but obviously at the base of the spine there is concern because it's dangerously close to the vertebrae. He's going to be in hospital for quite some time.

'His wife Norma said he was feeling very, very low, especially as he had now lost all the weight he had managed to regain. He had been doing quite well, to the point that he was beginning to get the use of his arm back.'

It is believed the abscess was also the cause of his earlier problems, but doctors were unable to locate the cause of the trouble when Prowse was last in hospital.

Mr Day said: 'At the moment they are taking samples to find out what it is made of before they can work out what to do.'

Prowse, whose family runs a gym, had been walking with a stick after an operation two years ago left him with one leg shorter than the other.

The former Mr Universe contestant is a popular draw at sci-fi conventions for his role as Darth Vader. He was also known as the Green Cross Code Man for his appearances in 1970s public information films.

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