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David Ankrum

The voice of Wedge Antilles in Star Wars: A New Hope

A film/television actor and writer. He was cast by Fred Roos and George Lucas to do the voice of Wedge Antilles (Red 2) in Star Wars: A New Hope. He dubbed the voice of Scottish Actor Denis Lawson who played the role in the film. TV roles include Tabitha, Moonlighting, Days of Our Lives and more.

David Ankrum grew up in a family of actors. His mother, Joan Ankrum (stage name Joan Wheeler) was under contract to Warner Bros. in the 1930’s where she did several films. She also performed on Broadway with Van Heflin. His Father, Morris Ankrum, was a character actor who played many diverse roles in many films. He seemed to be in every Science Fiction Film with the word “Mars” in the title. Flight To Mars, Invaders From Mars where he played Colonel Fielding, Red Planet Mars… He also protected the Earth from giant locusts in Beginning Of The End. Got sapped by Martians in Earth vs. The Flying Saucers!

David also grew up across the street from Dennis Muren. Childhood friends, In the early 1960s, they made films in Dennis’s garage. Dennis would experiment with special effects and David was the actor. Dennis went on to work on Star Wars where he brought his special effects genius to light.

Little did David know back then that fifteen years later he would become part of one of the biggest Sci Fi franchises ever made and his character, Red 2 (Wedge), would be a critical part in one of the biggest shootouts in film history.

Some of David’s other acting highlights were Playing Adam Stephens opposite Lisa Hartman in the series Tabitha, starring with Melanie Griffith in a sold TV series that never aired, Coast To Coast for NBC. Working with director Lasse Hallstrom as the lead in a TV Pilot The Big Five for NBC… Oh and not to forget throwing John Boy off a bridge on John Boy’s first day of college in The Waltons.

Other Guest Starring roles in television include, Moonlighting, Cagney and Lacey, Murder She Wrote, Cannon, Hunter, Barnaby Jones, Hardcastle and McCormick, Alice, Days Of Our Lives, Simon and Simon, Wizards and Warriors, The White Shadow to name a few.

As a Television writer, David wrote for the series Charles in Charge, Roc, Getting By, 13 East and Totally Hidden Video.

Currently, David has written a Children’s Book and has teamed up with Marvel and DC Comics Illustrator Brad Vancata to do the Illustrations.

More on David Ankrum:

Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030193/bio

TV.com: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030193/bio