McDiarmid ends play despite health fears

Star Wars actor Ian McDiarmid completed a theatrical performance despite fears he was suffering a heart attack.

McDiarmid, who played Emperor Palpatine in the sci-fi franchise, received positive reviews from critics even though an ambulance was called for him ten minutes before the play's conclusion.

He was playing the Father in Six Characters In Search Of An Author at the Gielgud Theatre when the incident occurred.

Understudy Stephen Crane replaced McDiarmid in the show for the rest of the week.

"I think he had dizzy spells or something," said a theatre spokesperson. "He did the curtain call and he felt not quite there."

However, they denied that the actor had suffered a heart attack, pointing out that he returned to the production one week later.