BY MICHAEL ROFFMAN

ON AUGUST 13, 2016, 1:15PM

There’s a disturbance in the Force today. Kenny Baker, British actor and musician, died Saturday morning after suffering from a long illness. The 83-year-old was best known for manning the heroic and iconic droid R2-D2 in the Star Wars franchise.

The Guardian confirmed the death, issuing a statement from Baker’s niece, Abigail Shield, which read: “It was expected, but it’s sad nonetheless. He had a very long and fulfilled life. He brought lots of happiness to people and we’ll be celebrating the fact that he was well loved throughout the world. We’re all very proud of what he achieved in his lifetime.”

Born Kenneth George Baker in Birmingham, England, Baker originally attended boarding school in Kent and planned to follow his father’s footsteps to become an aengraver. His first shot at show business arrived when he was approached in the street to join a theatrical troupe of little people, an invitation that eventually led to work at a circus and ice shows.

Shortly after, he formed a successful comedy act dubbed the Minitones alongside entertainer Jack Purvis, which caught the eye of George Lucas, who hired him to man the infamous droid R2-D2 in 1977’s Star Wars. He would reprise the character six more times, including last year’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, before finally handing off the role to Jimmy Vee last November.

In addition to Star Wars, Baker also starred in several other major motion pictures, including The Goonies, Flash Gordon, Amadeus, Willow, The Elephant Man, Time Bandits, and 24 Hour Party People. In the late ’90s, he even tried his hand at stand up comedy and played harmonica in the James Coutts’ Scottish Dance Band.

His wife Eileen Baker passed away in 1993. They are survived by their two children.

Kenny Baker, the 3ft 8in actor most famous for immortalising robot R2-D2 in Star Wars, has died at the age of 81.

The Birmingham-born actor passed away today according to family members.

He had suffered problems with his lungs and had been ill for some time, his niece Abigail Shield said.

'He brought lots of happiness to people and we'll be celebrating the fact that he was well loved throughout the world,' she said.

'We're all very proud of what he achieved in his lifetime.'

Baker played the resourceful droid known for his whistles and beeps in the original 'Star Wars' movie in 1977 and in the five following movies.

He also received a credit in last year's 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', and attended the European premiere in London in December in a wheelchair.

Baker's agent Johnny Mans said: 'He will be sadly missed.'

Mr Mans said Baker had been ill for a couple of years, adding that he had been cared for by his nephew.

Actor Ewan McGregor, who appeared in three Star Wars movies, tweeted: 'So sorry to hear about this. It was lovely working with Kenny.'

Shield told Sky News television: 'Unfortunately he was too ill to be part of the new Star Wars films.

'He was due to fly out to LA (for the most recent premiere) but doctors told him he was too unwell to fly. But he was consulted by certain people.'

She added: 'He obviously enjoyed the time working at Star Wars, it gave him a whole new different view on his disability.'

The latest instalment of the franchise, 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', is due out in December.

Baker also starred in cult movies from the 1980s such as 'Time Bandits' and 'Flash Gordon'.

However Baker and Anthony Daniels, who played R2-D2's on-screen friend C3PO had a frosty relationship dating back decades.

Their long-running feud was one of the most legendary in showbusiness.

It first came to light in 2005 when Baker told Hollywood.com that Daniels hadn't mixed with the cast.

He said: 'Anthony doesn't mix at all–he keeps himself to himself. He never wants to have a drink with any of us. Once when I said hello to him he just turned his back on me and said, 'Can't you see I'm having a conversation?' I was blazing with rage.

'It was the rudest thing anyone had ever done to me. I was furious. It was unbelievable.'

And in 2008, Baker was one of just three cast members to attend a London Star Wars reunion after previously telling reporters that his attendance depended on whether Daniels was going.

He said: 'It depends. If you invite his lordship, the one with the golden balls. If he comes, I won't be there'

Just a year later in an explosive interview with Metro, he told how Daniels had looked down on him 'like a piece of s***'.

He said: 'I thought it was just me he didn’t get on with but recently I’ve found out he doesn’t get on with anyone.

'He’s been such an awkward person over the years. If he just calmed down and socialised with everyone, we could make a fortune touring around making personal appearances.

'I’ve asked him four times now but, the last time, he looked down his nose at me like I was a piece of s***. He said: ‘I don’t do many of these conventions – go away little man.’ He really degraded me and made me feel small – for want of a better expression.'

He also admitted that his constant appearances on the fan convention circuit were financially motivated.

He sad: 'It’s all I live on now. I do around three a month at the moment. I’m not making a fortune but I’m bouncing along. I’ve got a nice Rolls Royce, a nice bungalow and I’ve got a girlfriend who I first went out with in the 1960s, so I’m the happiest dwarf in Europe.'