Jason Wingreen, who voiced the bounty hunter Boba Fett in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, has died aged 95.

He died at his home in Los Angeles on Christmas Day, his son Ned told The Hollywood Reporter.

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New York-born Wingreen served in World War II before co-founding New York’s famous Circle in the Square theatre company.

In addition to stage work he had 187 screen acting credits between 1955 and 1994 according to the Internet Movie Database, including playing bartender Harry Snowden in 117 episodes of the classic American sitcoms All in the Family and Archie Bunker’s Place.

He said in a 2010 interview that playing Harry Snowden for seven seasons between 1976 and 1983 “allowed me to retire, let me put it away”.

He auditioned for the role of Jedi master Yoda for the 1980 movie The Empire Strikes Back, but was offered four lines of dialogue for the helmeted bounty hunter Bobba Fett instead.

He was not credited for the role, which was played on-screen by English actor Jeremy Bullock, and received no residuals despite his voice being included on some Boba Fett action figures.

His voice was replaced for the 2004 DVD re-release of The Empire Strikes Back by New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison, who played Fett’s father Jango Fett in the 2002 prequel Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

Fans have uploaded videos featuring Wingreen’s voice to YouTube.

Boba Fett, who led Darth Vader’s troops to Harrison Ford’s Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back, became one of Star Wars’ most popular characters.

He was eaten by the sarlacc in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi after a temporarily blind Han Solo damaged his jet pack, causing it to malfunction.