It’s been 30+ years since the trilogy and most of the actors that were in the original films are still around acting or doing conventions. We thought we’d look into some of their current projects and see what they are up to.
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) has not done much in the way of film roles since Star Wars, partially because of a bad scar on his face, but he hasn’t disappeared. He is the voice of many characters that we know from the cartoons. He played Klaw from the Avengers, the Joker from the Batman: Animated Series, Red Skull from the Marvel Super Heroes, and a host of others. And it was just announced that he would reprise his role as the Joker in the newest Batman game.
Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) has a one woman show coming to HBO in which she talks about her sometimes dysfunctional life, providing tidbits into not only her character in Star Wars, but her famous parents Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. She can also be seen in Wright vs. Wrong, a TV movie, Entourage, and her voice can be heard as Angela in Family Guy. She, like many of her castmates, also reprised their roles for Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II.
Harrison Ford (Han Solo), of course, is a screen legend these days, although his more recent movies have not done as well, even the long awaited Indiana Jones IV. At 68, he is still going with plans to make another Indiana Jones as well as starring in a sci-fi movie set in the old west called Cowboys and Aliens. His other recent films include Morning Glory and an Extraordinary Measures.
James Earl Jones (Voice of Darth Vader) is another screen legend. He is Shakespearean trained and has been in hundreds of movies and TV shows. His deep commanding voice has led to many voice roles beyond his regular acting career, most notably of course, Mufasa from the Lion King. He is currently 79 and will play Raphael in a new movie called Starbright to be released in 2012. Not only that, but he will reprise his role as Darth Vader in Star Tours II: The Adventure Continues.
Anthony Daniels (C3PO) is a respected British actor who has had a long career, but he’s remained the voice and characterization of C3PO, through many TV shows. He will be playing the gold robot once again in Star Tours II as the voice of the very proper android. In this case, C3PO himself will be played by an actual robot.
David Prowse (Body of Vader) pretty much stayed out of the limelight through his career, appearing mostly as Vader in various shows, while doing short indie films and TV movies. He now owns a gym in London, where his brother did manage it before opening his own. Oddly enough, David Prowse and James Earl Jones have never met in person. He had been fighting prostate cancer, but his treatment went well and he was able to beat it.
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), like the other costumed characters in Star Wars, has had a limited acting career outside of the George Lucas franchise. He mainly can be seen at Star Wars conventions where he signs autographs for the fans. In his spare time, he does woodworking. Oddly enough he was discovered at a hospital where he worked. When he was seen towering over the others, they knew that he would be the one. Oddly enough, he had a chance to play Vader or Chewbacca, but he and Prowse decided which role they would take. Mayhew didn’t want to play the villain.
Kenny Baker (R2D2) currently resides in Preston, England. Even though he and his wife have dwarfism their two sons do not. He wrote an autobiography in 2009 about his life, career as an actor and sometimes musician, and discusses the feud that he’s had with Anthony Daniels. While he hasn’t done any film or TV in years, he has a new movie coming out where he plays a professor in Back2Hell, which is in post production.
And so that is a quick rundown of most of the main characters of the first Star Wars and the others in the original trilogy. Hope you enjoyed this look at what our favorite cast is up to these days.
