Kan Bonfils, the actor who was featured in a James Bond movie and has appeared on the Star Wars franchise as a Jedi master, dropped dead while rehearsing on stage.

The actor was preparing for Dante's Inferno, which will premiere at The Rag Factory in east London this week when all of the sudden, he collapsed on set.

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Paramedics, as well as members of the Craft Theatre company hastened to resuscitate him, but to no avail.

''Kan collapsed during a rehearsal and the director Rocky Rodriguez Jr performed CPR on location," Chris Hislop, spokesperson for the Craft Theatre Compay, said:

The cause of the actor's death is not yet known.

''With great sadness, we announce the death of Kan Bonfils," a statement from the company said, saying that the actor's sudden and tragic loss shocked everyone.

''The entire company are in shock. There is absolutely severe sadness, it is a real tragedy. I think they are holding it together by talking it through and by being there for each other,'' Hislop said.

The production, however, is expected to proceed with the show's premier and the company will have to look for Bonfil's replacement.

''It was due to open on Thursday. If things go to plan and if the incoming actor is able to do the job we are hoping to open on Saturday,"' Hislop stated.

In 1999, Kan was featured in Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace, where he played the Jedi master Saesee Tiin. He also appeared in other action films, notably, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life, Batman Begins and Skyfall. He is also a regular in various West End productions.

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