Summary

The originalStar Warstrilogy made icons out of every actor in its cast with unforgettable characters . When George Lucas wrote and directed the originalStar Warsmovie , there was no guarantee that it would be successful enough to spawn the sequels that he had planned . But it became an overnight hotshot and a ethnical phenomenon that continues to appropriate audience ’ imaginations to this day . SomeStar Warsactors were already renowned pic stars when they appear in a coltsfoot far , far away , like Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing , whereas others were launched to stardom by the trilogy , like Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill .

Many actors from theStar Warstrilogy will forever be associated with their reference from the dealership , like Hamill with his persona as Luke Skywalker or Anthony Daniels with C-3PO , while others went on to play evenly iconic function elsewhere , like Harrison Ford with Indiana Jones . Some characters required more than one actor to work them to the screen , like Darth Vader , while others were puppets whose voices and body linguistic communication were provided by skilled puppeteer , like Frank Oz with Yoda . Lucas found the perfect thespian to bring each of these pulpy , archetypal characters of the originalStar Warstrilogy to biography .

Mark Hamill As Luke Skywalker

A Jedi, Like His Father Before Him

Date of nascence

September 25 , 1951

Also known for

Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn from Star Wars The Phantom Menace, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker from Star Wars A New Hope, Daisy Ridley as Rey from Star Wars The Force Awakens

The Joker in various DC projects , Fire Lord Ozai inAvatar : The Last Airbender , Arthur Pym inThe crepuscle of the House of Usher

Luke Skywalker , the Force prodigy who leaves behind his humble first on Tatooine to lead the Rebellion to triumph , is played by Mark Hamill . Luke is the quintessential original of the traditional “ hero ’s journey . ” Hamill has won three Saturn Awards for his role as Luke , which he afterward reprised in theStar Warssequel trilogy . Hamill is also a fertile voice histrion who played Fire Lord Ozai inAvatar : The Last Airbenderand the Joker in many DC projects get down withBatman : The Animated Series .

What ’s the best style to ascertain Star Wars ? Here ’s everything you need to know to observe in release or timeline ordering , and how to include the TV show .

Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi wields his lightsaber, Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala stands in her hooded gown, and Jake Lloyd’s Anakin Skywalker looks off to the side, edited over a Phantom Menace poster

Carrie Fisher As Leia Organa

More Than Just A Princess

October 21 , 1956

Date of death

December 27 , 2016

Split_image_of_David_Prowse_Jake_Lloyd_and_Hayden_Christensen_as_Anakin_Skywalker

Shampoo,30 Rock , Catastrophe

Leia Organa , Princess of Alderaan and one of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance , is act by Carrie Fisher . Leia was one of the earliest trailblazing distaff action heroes . Fisher afterward play Leia in the sequel trilogy . She also appeared inThe Blues Brothers , The ‘ Burbs , andWhen Harry Met Sally . Fisher became a highly search - after Hollywood script MD who tightened up such scripts asHook , Sister Act , andThe Wedding Singer , as well as theStar Warsmovies . As an source , she write the novelPostcards from the Edgeand the memoirWishful Drinking .

The cast of the Star Wars prequel trilogy features dandy actors like Ewan McGregor , Natalie Portman , and Samuel L. Jackson playing iconic characters .

Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca on the Death Star in Star Wars

Harrison Ford As Han Solo

The Ultimate Scoundrel

July 13 , 1942

Indiana Jones , Jack Ryan , Blade Runner

Han Solo , the rascally smuggler who reluctantly link the Rebel movement and becomes central to its triumph over the Empire , is played by Harrison Ford , who afterwards reprised his role inStar Wars : The Force Awakens . After draw his suspension in the originalStar Warsfilm , Ford became a big movie star . He went on to wager such roles as Rick Deckard in theBlade Runnerfranchise , President James Marshall inAir Force One , and the eponymic archeologist - turned - explorer in theIndiana Jonesseries . He has received the AFI Life Achievement Award and the Cecil B. DeMille Award .

Luke watching the sunset in Star Wars

Alec Guinness As Obi-Wan Kenobi

More Powerful Than You Can Ever Imagine

April 2 , 1914

August 5 , 2000

The Bridge on the River Kwai , A passing to India , Doctor Zhivago

Leia with a blaster in Star Wars

Obi - Wan Kenobi , a.k.a . Ben Kenobi , the wise Jedi - in - exile who starts Luke on his heroic path and proceed to guide on him as a Force wraith after being hit down by Darth Vader , is bring by Alec Guinness . The prolific actor got his start in Ealing drollery likeThe LadykillersandKind Hearts and Coronets . He went on to come along in such classics asLawrence of ArabiaandDoctor Zhivago . Guinness received the Academy Award for Best Actor for hisperformance inThe Bridge on the River Kwai . He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his play inStar Wars .

Peter Mayhew As Chewbacca

A Lasting Legacy

May 19 , 1944

April 30 , 2019

Terror , Dragon Ball GT : A Hero ’s Legacy , Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger

Han with a blaster in Star Wars.

Chewbacca , Han ’s Wookiee sidekick who help him navigate the Millennium Falcon , is wager by the very tall Peter Mayhew . The actor repeat the role inStar Wars : Episode III : Revenge of the Sithand played Chewbacca one last fourth dimension inStar warfare : The Force Awakens — partake in the part with Joonas Suotamo — before retiring from the franchise . He also act Chewbacca as a celebrity guest on episodes ofDonny & MarieandThe Muppet Show . Mayhew spent most of his playing career playing Chewbacca , but he play small function inTerrorandSinbad and the Eye of the Tiger .

Billy Dee Williams As Lando Calrissian

Quite The Charmer

April 6 , 1937

The LEGO Batman Movie , Batman , Dynasty

Lando Calrissian , Han ’s old frenemy and the executive of Cloud City , is played by Billy Dee Williams . After selling out Han to the Empire , Lando has a modification of kernel , join the Rebels ’ cause , and becomes a superior general . Williams later reprised his use asLando inStar Wars : The Rise of Skywalker . Before playing Lando , Williams was easily known for asterisk alongside Diana Ross inMahoganyandLady sing the Blues . He also played lawyer Harvey Dent in 1989’sBatmanand later voiced his nefarious alter ego Two - brass inThe Lego Batman Movie .

Ben Kenobi with a lightsaber in Star Wars

Anthony Daniels As C-3PO

He Always Knows The Odds

February 21 , 1946

The Lord of the Rings , Ralph Breaks the net , I Bought A Vampire Motorcycle

C-3PO , the finical communications protocol droid who ends up in Luke ’s willpower by opportunity and goes along for the risky venture , is played by Anthony Daniels . Daniels make for Threepio in every mainlineStar Warsmovie plusRogue One : A Star Wars StoryandSolo : A Star Wars Story , making him the only player to come out in all stagily releasedStar Warsmovies . Daniels also render the voice of Legolas in Ralph Bakshi ’s liven adaptation ofThe Lord of the Ringsand played a diagnostician in episode of the Helen Mirren - led detective dramaPrime Suspect .

Chewbacca on the Falcon in Star Wars

Kenny Baker As R2-D2

A Brave Little Droid

August 24 , 1934

August 13 , 2016

The Elephant Man , Time Bandits , Willow

Billy Dee Williams as Lando pointing off-screen in Return of the Jedi

R2 - D2 , the sardonic astromech droid who loyally do Luke , is encounter by Kenny Baker . The " voice " ofArtoo was created by auditory sensation designer Ben Burtt , but Baker is the performer inside the costume . Baker later reprised the role in the prequel trilogy and played Artoo one last time inStar Wars : The Force Awakensbefore he passed aside in 2016 , after which the part was taken over by Jimmy Vee . Baker play role in other fantasy movies , likeTime Bandits , Willow , Flash Gordon , andLabyrinth , and also appear in prestige dramas likeThe Elephant ManandAmadeus .

Andor ’s Genevieve O’Reilly is just one of many Star Wars actors to take over a function from another role player , along with Ewan McGregor and Temuera Morrison .

David Prowse & James Earl Jones As Darth Vader

The Power Of The Dark Side

David Prowse

July 1 , 1935

November 28 , 2020

C-3PO on Tantive IV in Star Wars

A Clockwork Orange , the Green Cross Man , Jabberwocky

James Earl Jones

January 13 , 1931

R2-D2 on Tatooine in Star Wars.

Dr. Strangelove , The Great White Hope , Of Mice & Men

Darth Vader , the formidable Sith Lord who does the Emperor ’s bidding and rules the galaxy with an iron fist , is played by two different actors . Bodybuilder David Prowse play the theatrical role ’s intimidating physical presence on - solidifying , while imposing actor James Earl Jones provides his booming phonation . Prowse had antecedently played the writer Frank Alexander ’s manservant , Julian , inA Clockwork Orange . He also trained Christopher Reeve for the persona of Superman . Jones has played such iconic roles as King Jaffe Joffer inComing to America , Terence Mann inField of Dreams , and Mufasa inThe Lion King .

Frank Oz As Yoda

Judge Me By My Size, Do You?

May 25 , 1944

The Muppets , Sesame Street , Little Shop of Horrors

Yoda , the maturate Jedi master who trains Luke in the swamps of Dagobah , is playact by Frank Oz , who did the puppeteering in gain to providing the character reference ’s voice . He after reprised the office in the prequel trilogy , which brought in CGI effects , andThe Last Jedi , which went back to classic puppeteering . Oz was responsible for fetch many iconic Jim Henson character to life history , including Miss Piggy , Fozzie Bear , and Animal onThe Muppet Showand Bert , Grover , and Cookie Monster onSesame Street . He ’s also train such movies asThe Dark Crystal , Little Shop of horror , andDirty Rotten Scoundrels .

Darth Vader at the Hoth base in The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars Original Trilogy Supporting Cast & Characters

Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin : The commandant of the Death Star and Vader ’s correct - paw man , Grand Moff Tarkin , is played by Peter Cushing . The actor became a horror icon with his performance as such character as Baron Frankenstein and Doctor Van Helsing in Hammer horror product .

Denis Lawson as Wedge Antilles :X - wing original Wedge Antilles , a key figure in the Rebellion , is played by Denis Lawson . The role player later reprised the function inStar war : The ascension of Skywalker . He is also have a go at it for playing John Jarndyce in the BBC adaptation ofBleak Houseand Gordon Urquhart in the movieLocal Hero .

Jeremy Bulloch as Boba Fett : Ice - cool H.M.S. Bounty hunter Boba Fett was played by Jeremy Bulloch . He later cameoed as Captain Colton inStar war : Episode III : Revenge of the Sith . Bulloch also play Q ’s assistant , Smithers , in the James Bond movies and Edward of Wickham in the ITV seriesRobin of Sherwood .

Yoda looking up on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back.

Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine : Emperor Palpatine is dally by Ian McDiarmid inReturn of the Jedi — and the Special Edition ofThe Empire Strikes Back . He later on reprised the purpose in the prequel trilogy , Star Wars : The hike of Skywalker , and variousStar WarsTV serial . McDiarmid also played Dr. Thomas Lancaster inSleepy Hollowand Sir George Goldie inThe Lost City of Z.

Warwick Davis as Wicket W. Warrick : Wicket , the Ewok who befriends Leia inReturn of the Jedi , is played by Warwick Davis in his movie debut . Davis later roleplay various otherStar Warsroles in projects ranging fromStar Wars : Episode I : The Phantom MenacetoSolo : A Star Wars Story , as well as playing the rubric purpose inWillowand Professor Filius Flitwick in theHarry Pottermovies .

Grand Moff Tarkin on the Death Star in Star Wars

Movies

Star Wars