View source for Admiral Piett

{{Short description|Fictional character from Star Wars}}
{{Infobox character
| name        = Admiral Piett
| image       = AdmiralPiett.jpeg
| caption     = Admiral Piett as seen in ''The Empire Strikes Back''
| series      = [[Star Wars]]
| first       = ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]''<br> (1980)
| last        =
| creator     = [[George Lucas]]<br>[[Lawrence Kasdan]]
| portrayer   = [[Kenneth Colley]]
| voice       = [[Rupert Degas]] <br>(''Empire at War'')<br>[[Trevor Devall]]<br> (''[[Lego Star Wars]]''), <br>[[Kenneth Colley]]<br> (''Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out'')
| occupation  = ''[[Executor (Star Wars)|Executor]]'' Commander, Admiral (Galactic Empire)
| gender      = Male
| lbl21       = Homeworld
| data21      = Axxila
| affiliation = [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]]<br>[[Galactic Republic]] (formerly) 
}}

'''Admiral Firmus Piett''' is a fictional character from the ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[media franchise|franchise]], first introduced and portrayed by [[Kenneth Colley]] in the 1980 film ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]''. As a supporting villain in command of [[Darth Vader]]'s flagship, ''[[Executor (Star Wars)|Executor]]'', Piett is generally considered to be the most prominent [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Imperial officer]] in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lussier |first=Germain |date=2025-07-03 |title=Admiral Piett Gave the Empire Its Human Face |url=https://gizmodo.com/admiral-piett-gave-the-empire-its-human-face-2000623839 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}</ref> He subsequently appeared in the sequel ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', making him the only officer in the [[original trilogy (Star Wars)|original trilogy]] to appear in more than one film and be portrayed by the same actor. Piett also appears in the [[Star Wars canon|canon]] ''Star Wars'' novel ''[[Star Wars: Lost Stars|Lost Stars]]'', and is featured in several more novels, comic books, and video games within the ''[[Star Wars expanded universe|Star Wars Legends]]'' line.

==Character==

===Development===
Piett was a creation of [[George Lucas]] and [[Lawrence Kasdan]] for ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' and ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''. Although Admiral Piett's true first appearance in the Star Wars universe was one month prior to the release of the ''Empire Strikes Back'' in the film's novelization, he was brought to life to audiences around the world by British actor Kenneth Colley, who was cast in the role. Colley recalls that ''Empire Strikes Back'' director [[Irvin Kershner]] stated that for Piett, he was "looking for someone that would frighten [[Adolf Hitler]]", and told Colley after meeting him, "Yes, I think you're it".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/from-world-war-to-star-wars-imperial-officers|title=FROM WORLD WAR TO STAR WARS: IMPERIAL OFFICERS |date=20 August 2014 |publisher=StarWars.com |access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref> In playing the role, Colley chose not to portray a singular attitude for the character; but instead attempted to bring forth a more true to life humanity in Piett's character, something that he believes ultimately sat quite well with audiences.<ref name="Kenneth Colley Interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.jedinews.co.uk/misc/articles/kenneth-colley-interview/|title=Kenneth Colley Interview|publisher=JediNews.co.uk|access-date=June 7, 2017}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Appearances ==
=== Film ===

==== ''The Empire Strikes Back'' ====
Piett served in the Galactic Empire as [[Chief mate|first officer]] and [[captain (naval)|captain]] of the [[Super Star Destroyer]], ''Executor'', [[Darth Vader]]'s flagship. While in search of the [[Rebel Alliance|Rebel base]], under the command of [[Admiral]] [[Admiral Ozzel|Ozzel]], Piett receives a suspicious transmission from an Imperial probe droid located in the [[Hoth]] system. Although dismissed and ignored by Ozzel who wants proof, not leads, Piett bypasses Ozzel and informs Vader of the transmission; which in fact does turn out to be the hidden Rebel Alliance headquarters, Echo Base. Vader then dispatches the Imperial Fleet to Hoth; however, Ozzel orders the fleet to exit hyperspace too close to the planet, enabling them to be detected by the Rebels, who raise an energy shield to stop any orbital bombardment. Ozzel is quickly [[Telekinesis|force choked]] to death by Vader for his incompetence. Vader then promotes Piett to Admiral, giving him full command of the Destroyer.<ref name="Empire Strikes Back">{{cite AV media| people = Irvin Kershner (Director)| title = The Empire Strikes Back| medium = Movie| publisher = Lucasfilm Ltd.| date = May 17, 1980 }}</ref>

After the Battle of Hoth, Piett is tasked with the pursuit of the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'', which has escaped into a nearby asteroid field. Piett informs Vader of this, whilst Vader is in his [[meditation]] chamber aboard the ''Executor''; in doing so, Piett becomes the first onscreen character to see Vader without his helmet. Vader at first ignores Piett's concern over venturing into the field, but later commands the admiral to move the ship away from the [[asteroid]]s, in order to gain a clear signal for Vader's communication with [[Emperor]] [[Palpatine]]. Vader subsequently hires [[bounty hunter]]s to assist in the capture of the ''Millennium Falcon'', a decision which Piett objects to. With the ''Falcon'' continuing to evade capture, Vader executes Star Destroyer ''Avenger'' captain [[Lorth Needa]], conveying his displeasure as an ominous warning to Piett.<ref name="Empire Strikes Back" />

With bounty hunter [[Boba Fett]] tracking the ''Falcon'' to [[Bespin|Cloud City on Bespin]], Piett has his engineers deactivate the hyperdrive on the ship. Later attempting to escape, the ''Millennium Falcon'', and those within it, are nearly captured when Piett orders the activation of the Executor's tractor beam. However, the ''Falcon'' unexpectedly jumps to light-speed and evades capture, as [[R2-D2]] is able to reactivate the hyperdrive. Despite his failure, a visibly terrified Piett finds his life uncharacteristically spared by Vader at the end of the film.<ref name="Empire Strikes Back" />

====''Return of the Jedi''====
In the following film, Admiral Piett is in command of the Imperial fleet at the Battle of Endor, still aboard the ''Executor''. He first appears in the film when a covert team of Rebels, led by [[Han Solo]] aboard the stolen [[Imperial shuttle]], ''Tydirium'', attempt to transmit an older valid security code, to allow them [[Force field (fiction)|shield]] access and entry to the [[Endor (Star Wars)|forest moon of Endor]]. Piett is then interrupted by Vader, who informs Piett that he will deal with the shuttle personally.<ref name="Return of the Jedi">{{cite AV media| people = Richard Marquand (Director)| title = Return of the Jedi| medium = Movie| publisher = Lucasfilm Ltd.| date = May 25, 1983 }}</ref>

During the Rebel attack on the [[second Death Star]], Piett receives orders from Emperor Palpatine himself to hold position and keep the Rebels from escaping from the Death Star's fully operational superlaser. The plan is disrupted when the Rebels are ordered by [[Admiral Ackbar]] to attack the Star Destroyers at point-blank range, concentrating their fire on the ''Executor''. After the Rebel fleet knocks out the shields protecting the bridge, Piett commands his men to increase firepower to keep anything from getting through. A disabled [[A-wing|A-wing fighter]] then makes a [[Kamikaze pilot|kamikaze maneuver]] into the ''Executor''{{'s}} bridge, with Piett and [[Commander]] Gherant diving into the lower command deck. The incapacitated Destroyer then plunges into the Death Star, exploding in a plume of flame, as Piett meets his demise.<ref name="Return of the Jedi" />

=== Novels ===
As stated in the 2015 ''Ultimate Star Wars'' reference book, Piett was born on the Outer Rim world of Axxila, and is confirmed to have the first name Firmus within the new canon.<ref>{{cite book |date=April 28, 2015 |title=Ultimate Star Wars |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |isbn=9781465436016}}</ref> Piett later joins the Imperial Starfleet, and appears in the novel ''[[Star Wars: Lost Stars|Lost Stars]]'', set eight years after [[Clone Wars (Star Wars)|the Clone Wars]], under the command of [[Grand Moff Tarkin]] at an Imperial annexation on the planet Jelucan.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gray |first=Claudia |date=September 4, 2015 |title=Star Wars: Lost Stars |publisher=Disney–Lucasfilm Press |isbn=978-1484724989}}</ref>

=== ''Star Wars Legends'' ===
Piett has appeared in many novels, comics and video games, now considered to be non-Disney "canon" and part of ''[[Star Wars Legends]]''. He is given a much deeper backstory in these various media; As a young [[lieutenant (naval)|lieutenant]], Piett impresses Vader with his skill and [[loyalty]], and the [[Sith|Sith lord]] soon promotes him to captain of the Star Destroyer ''Accuser'' and makes him a member of the Empire's "Death Squadron". Winning widespread respect for his survival after the events of ''The Empire Strikes Back'', Piett also participates in the Battle of Mygeeto, before the events leading to his death in ''Return of the Jedi''.<ref>{{cite video game | title =Star Wars: Imperial Ace| developer =Fishlabs Entertainment| publisher =THQ Wireless| date =2006| platform = Cellphone game}}</ref><!-- Will add more to this later! -->

==Reception==
{{more sources needed section|date=July 2024|talk=Assertion of notability}}
Over time, the character has become a favorite amongst fans, due to his unusual longevity.<ref>{{Cite magazine| magazine = [[Star Wars Insider]] |title=Imperial Offices Field Guide | volume = 1| issue = 96| date = September 4, 2007| publisher = Titan Magazines}}</ref> According to Colley, the character of Piett was not originally slated to appear in ''Return of the Jedi'', but [[George Lucas]] added him because Lucasfilm had received "a lot of fan mail" about the character.<ref name="Kenneth Colley Interview" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Wookieepedia|Firmus Piett}}
* {{Star Wars Databank|subject=admiral-piett|text=Admiral Piett}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170211172123/http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0000089/ Admiral Piett] on [[IMDb]]

{{Star Wars universe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Piett, Admiral}}
[[Category:Characters created by George Lucas]]
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 1980]]
[[Category:Fictional admirals]]
[[Category:Fictional military captains]]
[[Category:Fictional military personnel in films]]
[[Category:Fictional war veterans]]
[[Category:Male characters in film]]
[[Category:Male film villains]]
[[Category:Star Wars Skywalker Saga characters]]