In the year
The news of his death was announced by his management company, Coolwaters Productions, in a post on Instagram. It was announced that de Aragon died of natural causes at the end of April.
An immortal legacy
“Coolwaters Productions LLC, our client, is saddened to announce the passing of Ms. Maria de Aragon, the actress who helped bring the character of ‘Gredo’ to life in Star Wars: A New Hope,” the statement read. “He leaves his family behind in Canada. He died of natural causes at the end of April 2024 at the age of 81 in a nursing home. “Our hearts are saddened, and we offer our condolences to the family and thank all Star Wars fans for their support over the years.”
The ad also highlighted the story of how de Aragon came to play Gredo. George Lucas was not satisfied with the original footage with Paul Blake, as he needed the character to appear more mobile. This led de Aragon to take the role to closely mimic Greedo’s speech during the memorable scene where Solo, played by Harrison Ford, is killed.
Who shot first?
“Maria ‘What do you think of Harrison Ford?’ She replied, “It’s going to kill me,” he added.
The famous scene where Greedo meets his end has given rise to the “first Han shot” debate among fans of the galactic universe. Greedo was originally a bounty hunter hired by Jabba the Hutt to capture Solo, only to be killed when the latter shot him. Later re-releases of the Star Wars films changed the action to self-defense, preventing Han from shooting first. In the edited scene, the bounty hunter first shoots at Han and misses, prompting Ford’s character to return fire. Despite Lucas’s good intentions, this change brought many complaints from fans who preferred the original version.
Film work
De Aragon made his film debut in 1964 with the film Young Thinkers. In her career, she has appeared in several films such as Nightmare in the Sun, Love Me Like I Do, Wonder Women, The Cremators, Teenager, Where the Wind Dies, City on Fire. Although his most famous role has always been Greedo, his contributions to cinema encompassed a variety of genres and characters.
De Aragon’s Gredo performance was brief but left an indelible mark on pop culture. The character became an icon in the universe envisioned by George Lucas and is remembered for his inscrutable appearance and tragic relationship with Solo. The controversy over who fired the first shot continues to be a topic of debate among fans, keeping the bounty hunter’s legacy, and, therefore, Dragon’s, alive.
Be safe somewhere
The actress’s passing is a reminder of how even supporting characters can have a lasting impact on fans’ hearts. His talent and charisma helped bring to life one of cinema’s most beloved universes, and his memory lives on in conversations about that famous scene in Moss Isley’s cantina.
De Aragon was not only a talented actress, but also a beloved figure in the Star Wars community. Her contribution to cinema and her role in one of the most iconic franchises in history will leave her with a special place in fans’ memories.