Tony Dyson, creator of 'Star Wars' R2D2, dies

VALLETTA, Malta (AP) -- Tony Dyson, who built the beloved, beeping Star Wars robot R2-D2, has died at his home in Malta, police said Friday. He was 68.

Dyson's body was discovered Friday in his residence on Gozo island. Neighbors had alerted police when Dyson, a British national who had lived in Malta since the early 1990s, didn't appear publicly for several days.

The police said no foul play is suspected. An autopsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death.

The squat R2-D2 droid, a sidekick of C-3P0, became one of the world's favorite robots. He formed an important part of the Star Wars franchise and made a revived —and crucial — appearance in the latest episode, The Force Awakens.