Why Did Darth Vader Die in Return of the Jedi? - Star Wars Explained

In Star Wars Return of the Jedi, why did Darth Vader die? Was it at the hands of Luke Skywalker? Emperor Palpatine? Or did he lose the will to live like Padme?

What if Anakin WAS Granted the Rank of Master -

Anakin's Thoughts While Being Burned on Mustafar and Turning Into Darth Vader -

8 Jedi Master Who Became Sith Lords -

How Did Anakin Kill All Jedi at the Temple During Order 66? Revenge of the Sith -Star Wars Explained

What if Order 66 Failed? Star Wars Theory

The Story and Reason Behind Darth Maul's Double Bladed Lightsaber

Count Dooku's Reaction to Qui Gon Jinn's Death

What If Qui Gon Jinn Trained Anakin Skywalker?

What if Padme Survived?

What if Mace Windu Killed Darth Sidious?

[vega]

He lifted Sideous, thereby unwittingly giving his adversary the high ground

[buffyoda]

“I am more powerful than the chancellor, I can overthrow him”
*literally throws him*

[sunnyv]

He died because he sensed the scripts to Episodes 7, 8 and 9 and thought: nope, I’ve suffered enough.

[costakiscosti]

His death was honorable, he was tragically manipulated by palpatine, he died as anakin and not darth vader.

[gringbot]

Turns out, Anakin was indeed the chosen one to defeat the Empire. Brilliant arc.

[brnexus]

I always assumed Palpatine's lighting screwed up Vader's life support system.

[RussellMather]

Me: thinking death Vader will look like a burnt anakan

Darth Vader: 🥚

[larcaidz]

I just realized at the end Anakin is wearing the JEDI MASTER robes. they let him become a master when he died?? 😂

[franciscoramirezespanagarc]

His death was honorable. The movie is named "The return of the Jedi" because it is the return of Anakin Skywalker.

[thomasbaron]

His anger and hate fuelled him.
When he let go of his negative feelings, that is what killed him

[tobbe]

Imagine Luke seeing his father offer his life for him to kill Palpatine and now in the new film, Anakin died for nothing because Palpatine is back

[andrewcabral]

He died because the force lightning destroyed his life support system.

[DarthVader-plts]

I didn't die, that was my stunt double.

[fishtailfuture]

I always loved that in the end Anakin was indeed the one who brought balance to the forces

[AdrianMoseley]

I'm starting to believe Palpatine can't turn off the lightening once he gets it

[spudhead]

He didn't die. He simply became more powerful that you can possibly imagine.

[SldOnEmWithDa]

Vader was the literal embodiment of “too angry to die” 😂 once that anger went away and it was just him and his son…all that hate, all that anger, the dark side that was fueling his rage and giving him purpose to keep going simply just vanished. His body finally succumbed to the wounds that should’ve killed him on Mustafar. Combine with the lightning frying his suit and it’s chips for my boy Darth lmao!!

[fentanelfloyd]

The scene where luke removed his father’s helmet had something special in it that every star wars movie made since has failed to recapture in any way.

[xamurai]

It was always about Anakin.. the entire 6 films.

[bubbleheadft]

I always thought it was pretty obvious why Vader died.