The actor, who provided the body for Darth Vader in the original trilogy, announced last month that ill-health had prompted him to step down from life in the public eye in January 2018.
However it now appears that he has retired early on medical advice.
For The Love of Sci-Fi posted on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that Dave Prowse will be retiring earlier than anticipated so will not be making any more public appearances.
“We’re just as gutted as everyone who were hoping to see him at For the Love of Sci-Fi 2017 but due to ill health his Doctors have advised it’s best to call it a day.
“Dave had originally announced he would be retiring from January 2018 onwards so we had planned to give him a send off worthy of the Dark Lord of the Sith, including a lifetime achievement award flanked by a huge garrison of Stormtroopers, a moving rendition of The Imperial March by the 67 piece Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra and a commemorative unveiling of our full size Darth Vader’s TIE fighter.
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“Dave headed up our For the Love of the Force event in 2015, drawing in a sellout audience that caught the attention of the New York Times, BBC, ITV, Sky News and other big news outlets and was set to be part of our 40 Years of Star Wars panel with Ian McDiarmid, Denis Lawson, Jeremy Bulloch, Daniel Logan, Joonas Suotamo and Ken Colley this year.
“Customers who have purchased photos with Dave are being refunded now. We apologise to all those that had planned to come and see him one last time, but Dave’s health comes first and foremost.
“Star Wars fans will be happy to know we are adding something else Darth Vader related in his absence.”
They added: “May the Force be with you Dave. Thanks for the memories and enjoy your retirement.”
Prowse has not remarked himself on Twitter but did confirm several weeks ago: “Beginning in January 2018, Dave will no longer be doing any personal appearances or conventions due to health problems.”
While James Earl Jones provided Vader’s voice, it was Prowse in the suit for 1977’s A New Hope, 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back and 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
In terms of the new trilogy, a Star Wars 8 trailer is expected in the coming days.