Standing at over six-feet tall and weighing in at 260 pounds, producers and film makers began taking notice of Prowse’s stature and cast him in larger-than-life roles. He soon settled into the horror/fantasy genre, starring in The Horror of Frankenstein in 1970 and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell in 1972. He also played a bodyguard in A Clockwork Orange in 1971, a Minotaur in The Time Monster in 1972, and another bodyguard in the 1981 BBC TV adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In the UK, Prowse became known as the "Green Cross Code Man" from his appearances in a children’s safety campaign that ran between 1976 and 1990. On the small screen, Prowse appeared in the first series of the British children’s science-fiction show, Tomorrow People from 1973 to 79.
David is perhaps best-known for his role as the ultimate villain in what has become one of the most famous film trilogies of all time. In 1977, he landed the role of Darth Vader in Star Wars. David had no lines in the film; the voice of Darth Vader was dubbed by actor James Earl Jones. Both actors returned to play Darth Vader for the subsequent sequels, Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Return of the Jedi in 1983. However, neither actor was used in the unmasking scene in Return of the Jedi – when Darth Vader’s mask is pulled off, the face shown is that of British actor Sebastian Shaw.
Prowse’s role in the original Star Wars trilogy has been the source of some negative feelings following the release of the films. Having delivered the lines of Darth Vader while filming was in progress, Prowse is said to resent George Lucas’s decision to have his voice dubbed over by James Earl Jones’s during production. Prowse was also reportedly slighted when his desire to be included in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in 2005 as the armored Darth Vader was not fulfilled. Instead, Hayden Christensen played the role of Darth Vader both in and out of armor – even though he is five inches shorter than Prowse and was looking out the mask's mouthpiece at certain times while filming. Perhaps as a result, David has a penchant for signing autographs with "David Prowse IS Darth Vader." Adding insult to injury, the light saber prop that Prowse used in the original trilogy was stolen from him home during a home invasion. Although he is now the official leader of a fan group dedicated to Star Wars costuming as well as being active in the convention circuit, Prowse has not been included in cast reunions in recent years.
In 2001, Prowse’s left arm became paralyzed. Shortly after, his right arm followed suit and he was diagnosed with septic arthritis caused by an infection. His arthritic symptoms, which first appeared in his early teens, seemed to dissipate when he began competitive weightlifting but reappeared by the early 90s. Prowse currently works with British arthritis organizations, serving as vice-president of the Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied Association.
David is currently married with three children. He has an English independent film coming out in late-2006, Perfect Woman, in which he plays the role of a cannibal gardener.
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