An actor who played a pilot in Star Wars and was once married to Felicity Kendal died after choking on his fish pie in hospital, an inquest has heard.

Gordon 'Drewe' Henley had numerous roles in film, television and theatre, including as X-Wing Squadron Red Leader Garven Dreis in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Footage of him in the role also appeared in the newest movie, Rogue One, a prequel to A New Hope in which pilots go on a mission to obtain the Death Star plans.

Gordon 'Drewe' Henley, who played a pilot in Star Wars and was once married to Felicity Kendal died after choking on his fish pie in hospital, an inquest has heard

When the Special Edition cut of A New Hope was released in 1997 it featured an additional scene of Mr Henley with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Biggs Darklighter (Garrick Hagon)

He married the actress Felicity Kendal in 1968 and they had one son, Charley, a special effects technician. They divorced in 1979

The 75-year-old, from Axminster, died last Valentine's Day, February 14, 2016, at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital after choking on his fish pie lunch.

His mental health nurse Bridget Selbera told the inquest: 'Almost halfway through the meal the patient choked. I gave him three back slaps and I called for help.'

The inquest at Exeter's County Hall this morning heard how he was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder in his 30s, previously known as manic depression.

Mr Henley was married to the actress Jacqueline Pearce for three and a half years from 1963 until they divorced.

He married the actress Felicity Kendal in 1968 and they had one son, Charley, a special effects technician. They divorced in 1979.

His performance in Star Wars was Henley's final one on film, as he was diagnosed with manic depression shortly after completing his part and he retired from acting.

Drewe Henley and Tracey Crisp during a role he played in 1970. But after he landed the Star Wars role, he was forced to give up acting due to mental health problems

When the Special Edition cut of A New Hope was released in 1997 it featured an additional scene of Mr Henley in which he talked with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Biggs Darklighter (Garrick Hagon).

FALLOUT WITH LUCAS OVER BATTLE CALM Mr Henley interpreted his character in Star Wars as an experienced battle veteran and so opted to play him without any excitement in his voice. Director George Lucas disagreed with this so they compromised so that Red Leader would at first be formal but as the battle progressed become more excited. Advertisement

In 2013, he was also diagnosed with vascular dementia and within the last 12 months of his life had become increasingly frail as it advanced.

It was also believed he had drug related Parkinsonism, which is a long term consequence of taking antipsychotic medication.

Between September 2015 and his death Mr Henley had been admitted to the RD&E six times from Franklyn Hospital in Exeter, a specialist mental health unit for mostly older people.

He was last admitted with a chest infection, along with concerns over his poor fluid and food intake.

He was assessed by speech and language therapists team and they were satisfied he could safely ingest food and drink, and nursing staff had not observed any difficulties.

Henley playing Man in a Suitcase - Three Blinks of the Eyes, an ITV programme

However, when he was half way through eating his fish pie lunch on February 14, he choked and nursing staff were unable to resuscitate him.

Bridget Selbera, who was him when he choked, described his mental health that day as 'predominantly confused' and said he was sitting upright independently as he at his lunch that day.

The former actor and his wife Lyn Williams

Senior health officer Catherine Hill who responded to the emergency call confirmed he was unresponsive and that the Heimlich maneuver had not been carried out because he was too frail.

Information about Mr Henley's health background was provided by Dr Joseph Butchart, consultant in geriatric and general medicine at the RD&E.

He said: 'As part of his mental health he had some paranoid disillusions and belief about food and fluid such as people trying to poison him which meant he was often not eating or drinking sufficiently to meet his dietary needs.'

A future care plan was in place for Mr Henley which would have seen him discharged to Silverleigh Care Home in Axminster for ongoing care once he had become more stable.

Describing his final say as 'encouraging' Dr Butchart said: 'Clinically there were signs of improvement and he was eating and drinking much better than he had on some previous admissions.'

He and his wife Lyn ran a bed and breakfast in Devon. The inquest continues.