Troubled life of 4ft 4in-tall Paul Grant after his death aged 56: Star Wars actor told how he turned to drink, drugs and prostitutes after splitting from his wife
- Star Wars and Harry Potter actor Paul Grant collapsed outside King’s Cross
- Famously played an Ewok in Return of the Jedi, starring alongside Harrison Ford
- Had previously opened up to losing everything after turning to drink and drugs
The film industry is mourning the loss of Star Wars and Harry Potter actor Paul Grant, who has tragically died at the age of 56 after a long battle with drugs and alcohol.
His family confirmed that the father-of-three was found collapsed outside King’s Cross station by police on Thursday afternoon.
Paul, who famously played an Ewok in Return of the Jedi where he starred alongside Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, was rushed to hospital where he was declared brain dead.
It has not yet been established what caused Paul’s death, but the 4ft 4in-tall dwarf had previously opened up about how he turned to drink, drugs and prostitutes after splitting from his wife, while he was also rescued off the streets.
Paul, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, spoke out about his troubles almost a decade a go when photos of him snorting cocaine surfaced online.
The film industry is mourning the loss of Star Wars and Harry Potter actor Paul Grant (pictured), who has tragically died at the age of 56.
Paul had a troubled life, admitting in 2014 to losing everything after separating from his wife and turning to drink, drugs and prostitutes
Aged 47 at the time, the dwarf who played a goblin in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, said his life spiralled out of control after breaking up with his wife Janet Crowson.
At the time, Paul told The Sunday Mirror that he had cheated on her several times and went ‘AWOL’ as he blamed himself for the collapse of their marriage.
He admitted: ‘I need help. I’ve been on cocaine and it has just got worse. I’m drinking and smoking what I can get.’
READ MORE: Father-of-three Paul Grant who played an Ewok in Return of the Jedi passes away suddenly after a long battle with drugs and alcohol
As news emerged of his death, his daughter Sophie Jayne Grant described Paul as someone who ‘always brought a smile and laughter to everyone’s face’. She spoke of how much he loved his daughters, son and girlfriend Maria Dwyer, 64.
But Paul’s family life was not always plain-sailing and the actor confessed in 2014 to losing everything.
A family friend told The Sun: ‘He was a lovely bloke. He’s always battled with drugs and alcohol addiction but he was a talented actor. He called himself the ‘King of the Dwarfs. It’s so sad.’
In 2014, Paul told the Sunday Mirror: ‘I had a family, I was married, now I’m divorced. I’ve lost everything. I’ve not got anything, my things, pictures, clothes are all over the place.
‘I don’t know what I want at the moment. I had money, I blew it all, I spent it on drugs and prostitutes.’
The 4ft 4in dwarf appeared as an Ewok in Return of the Jedi and stood in for actor Kenny Baker as R2D2 in the final scenes
Paul is survived by his girlfriend Maria (pictured), his two daughters and one son as well as his stepchildren and grandchildren
It was a stark confession from a popular actor who film fans have rushed to hail his contribution to the industry. One said: ‘Rest in peace Paul Grant. Thank you for your contributions to the Star Wars franchise and the entertainment industry as a whole. You will be missed.’
At the time of opening up, the actor who gained fame in films such as Labyrinth alongside David Bowie and Willow, was taken in by a 22-year-old mother-of-two Chloe McCarthy and her boyfriend who took pity on him and rescued him from living rough on the streets.
He had ended up living on the streets when his marriage collapsed and admitted to taking prostitutes back to the bedsit where he was staying, while he also sold his car to buy alcohol and drugs.
Paul would regularly drink cheap out-of-date lager and Ms McCarthy revealed he would take ‘any drugs he could get his hands on’ – including crack and heroin.
She showed photos of himself intoxicated at the time in a bid to make him quit, but it came to no avail at the time of the interview.
He confessed that during his chaotic lifestyle, acting work had dried up and he had not seen his agent at the time Warwick Davies, who also appeared in Willow, Star Wars and Harry Potter, for two years.
Paul is survived by his girlfriend Maria, his two daughters and one son as well as his stepchildren and grandchildren.
Maria described Paul as the ‘love of my life’. She told The Sun: ‘The funniest man I know. He made my life complete. Life is never going to be the same without him.’
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