Star Wars Cast Members

From LoveToKnow Sci-Fi

A comprehensive list of Star Wars cast members would have to include hundreds of talented men and women. In this multi-generational epic, some characters are portrayed by more than one actor, and many actors were completely transformed by special effects, elaborate costumes and makeup. Voice actors bring life to computer-generated characters or complex puppets.

The Imperial Stormtrooper is a clone as revealed in Episode II.

In 1977, 20th Century Fox released the first of the six interwoven films that constitute the Star Wars live action movie franchise. An instant success, it included a cast of new and veteran actors that would help to realize George Lucas's vision of a "galaxy far, far away."

These characters, their back stories and future fates constitute the complex Star Wars universe.

Notable Star Wars Cast Members

Anakin Skywalker

Three actors play Anakin Skywalker, the protagonist of the Star Wars prequel trilogy and tragic figure of the final episode.

Jake Lloyd

Jake Lloyd plays the precocious and gifted nine-year-old Anakin in The Phantom Menace (Episode I, 1999).

Born: March 5, 1989, Fort Collins, Colorado
Nationality: American
Highlights: Unhook the Stars (1995), Jingle All the Way (1996), and Madison (2001)

Hayden Christensen

Taking over the role of the young adult Anakin in Attack of the Clones (Episode II, 2002), Hayden Christensen became an audience favorite, though he received mixed reviews from the critics.

Born: April 19, 1981, Vancouver, British Columbia
Nationality: Canadian
Highlights: In the Mouth of Madness (1995), Life as a House (2001), Jumper (2008)

Sebastian Shaw

Playing Anakin at the end of his life, Sebastian Shaw's performance in Return of the Jedi (Episode VI, 1983) was digitally altered and partially cut for the 2004 DVD version of the film.

Born: May 29, 1905 - December 23, 1994
Nationality: English
Highlights: Shaw was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, a playwright and novelist.

Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman)

First appearing in The Phantom Menace (Episode I, 1999), the character Padme Amidala is portrayed by Natalie Portman, a talented young stage and screen actress who went on to star in all three episodes of the trilogy.

Born: June 9, 1981, Jerusalem, Israel
Nationality: Israeli American
Highlights: Where the Heart Is (2000), Cold Mountain (2003), V is for Vendetta (2006)

Obi-Wan Kenobi

A Jedi practitioner going from padawan learner to master during the course of all six films, Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Ben Kenobi, is one of a handful of characters who actively inhabit the Star Wars story from beginning to end.

Ewan McGregor

A stage and screen star popular for his romantic portrayals, Ewan McGregor is married to French production designer, Eve Mavrakis. He appeared in all three installments of the prequel trilogy.

Born: March 31, 1971, Perth, Scotland
Nationality: Scottish
Highlights: Trainspotting (1996), Moulin Rouge! (2001), Angels & Demons (2009)

Sir Alec Guinness

A talented, successful, and respected actor with an impressive resume, Alec Guinness is probably as well known for his disparaging remarks about the success and mystique of Star Wars than he is for creating an unforgettable characterization of an aging Jedi knight.

Born: April 2, 1914 – August 5, 2000, London, England
Nationality: English
Highlights: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)

The embodiment of youthful energy and enthusiasm, Luke Skywalker is the protagonist of episodes IV, V, and VI.

In 1977, just as shooting for the original film was winding down, Hamill was in an automobile accident in which he sustained facial injuries, including a broken nose and cheek. As a result, his facial features look slightly different in subsequent films. He is a voice artist as well as a screen artist.

Born: September 25, 1951, Oakland, California
Nationality: American
Highlights: Village of the Damned (1995), Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island(1998, Voice performance)

Han Solo (Harrison Ford)

Han Solo is the rakish, irreverent anti-hero you can't help but like. In the original three Star Wars films, fans wonder if he'll win the heart of Princess Leia, defeat the evil empire, and live happily ever after.

Originally hired to read lines for actors auditioning for the first Star Wars film, Harrison Ford managed to catch the eye of George Lucas, who eventually offered him the role of Han Solo.

Born: July 13, 1942, Chicago, Illinois
Nationality: American
Highlights: American Graffiti (1973), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Blade Runner (1982)

Darth Vader

After embracing the dark side of the Force, Anakin Skywalker is transformed into Darth Vader. Although Hayden Christensen portrays the early aspects of this transformation, the masked Darth Vader of the later episodes is created through a collaboration between James Earl Jones and David Prowse. Jones provides the deep, resonant voice, while Prowse's intimidating size gives towering bulk to the black caped figure.

Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher)

Twin sister to Luke Skywalker and daughter of Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, Princess Leia Organa is the love interest in the original three films of the franchise.

Fisher is an actress, author, and Hollywood personality. The gold slave bikini she wore in Return of the Jedi (Episode VI, 1983), became an instant sensation when the film was first released, inspiring a number of spoofs on shows like Saturday Night Live and Friends.

Born: October 21, 1956, Burbank, California
Nationality: American
Highlights: Shampoo (1975), Hannah and Her Sisters(1986), When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Characters in Costume

The alien worlds of the Star Wars universe wouldn't be complete without the aliens and plenty of robots too. To make these characters come alive, a variety of Star Wars cast members have lent their special physical and vocal talents to creating startling and remarkable portrayals. Among those you probably remember fondly: