( CNN ) -- Former Olympic fencer Bob Anderson , the man who wielded Darth Vader 's light saber , died Sunday at 89 , according to the British Academy of Fencing . Anderson 's film work began when he was a swordfight stunt double and coach for Errol Flynn in the 1953 movie `` Master of Balantree , '' but perhaps his best-known job was when he put on Vader 's helmet in `` Star Wars '' for the famous duel with Luke Skywalker , according to the Internet Movie Database . He represented Britain in the 1952 Olympic fencing competition , according to the 2009 documentary `` Reclaiming the Blade . '' `` He was truly one of our greatest fencing masters and a world-class film fight director and choreographer , and both the fencing community and film world will miss him , '' Philip Bruce , president of the British Academy of Fencing . Anderson `` passed away peacefully this morning at 4 a.m. in hospital , '' Bruce said in a posting on his group 's website . He also served as swordmaster and trained the lead actors in the `` Lord of the Rings '' trilogy and `` Pirates of the Caribbean , '' according to IMDb.com . His credits include the 1993 remake of `` The Three Musketeers , '' `` The Mask of Zorro , '' `` The Legend of Zorro , '' `` Die Another Day , '' `` The Princess Bride '' and `` The Parent Trap . ''
Bob Anderson 's early film credits include stunt double , fencing coach for Errol Flynn . He 's best known for performing Darth Vader 's 'Star Wars ' swordfight . British fencing president calls him `` one of our greatest fencing masters '' Anderson competed for Britain in the 1952 Olympics .