Star Wars is a much-loved, multi-generational saga with characters that have become household names.
We’ve seen beloved characters such as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia as babies right up to their surprisingly early deaths (Luke at age 53, Leia at 54). Anakin Skywalker grew from a bowl-cut-haired child to a half-robot, middle-aged Sith Lord.
Filmed over almost 50 years, Star Wars has sometimes required multiple actors to play a single character. For example, nine actors have played live-action versions of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader.
Star Wars is also unique in having original actors return decades later to reprise their roles. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford all returned more than 30 years after their last Star Wars film to play Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo.
This means audiences have had the (sometimes bittersweet) privilege of watching the actors age too.
Fisher was only 19 in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, but tragically did not live to complete her role in the saga – dying at age 60 before she could film Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
Other actors aged into their roles perfectly by mere chance. Ian McDiarmid, at 37, was younger than Harrison Ford when he played the decrepit Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi. This meant he aged perfectly to play the younger, scheming Palpatine in The Phantom Menace.
There are many surprising age differences between Star Wars characters and the actors who played them – sometimes over decades.
Here we look at 15 of the most popular characters, their age across the films and TV shows, and the age of the actors portraying them.
1. Luke Skywalker
Mark Hamill was 25 years old when he filmed A New Hope, playing 19-year-old Luke Skywalker. He was 28 during The Empire Strikes Back, to Luke’s 22, and 31 in Return of the Jedi, to Luke’s 23.
Hamill returned as 53-year-old Luke in The Force Awakens, at the age of 63, and in The Last Jedi, at 65. Luke Skywalker did not survive the latter film, but 67-year-old Hamill returned to play Force Ghost Luke in the Rise of Skywalker.
In The Mandalorian and the Book of Boba Fett, special effects were used for Mark Hamill to appear Luke’s age of 28 years old. Max Lloyd-Jones played his body double in the Mandalorian and Graham Hamilton in The Book of Boba Fett.
In Obi-Wan Kenobi, 9-year-old Grant Feely played 10-year-old Luke Skywalker.
| Film/Show | Luke’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) | Newborn | Aidan Barton | less than 12 months |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) | 10 years old | Grant Feely | 9 years old |
| Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) | 19 years old | Mark Hamill | 25 years old |
| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 22 years old | Mark Hamill | 28 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) | 23 years old | Mark Hamill | 31 years old |
| The Mandalorian (Season 2, 2020) | 28 years old | Mark Hamill (voice) Max Lloyd-Jones (body double) | 69 years old 29 years old |
| The Book of Boba Fett (2021) | 28 years old | Mark Hamill (voice) Graham Hamilton (body double) | 70 years old 40 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) | 53 years old | Mark Hamill | 63 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017) | 53 years old | Mark Hamill | 65 years old |
| Star Wars Episode: IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | Force Ghost | Mark Hamill | 67 years old |
2. Leia Organa
Carrie Fisher was 19 in A New Hope, the exact age of Princess Leia Organa. She similarly played 22-year-old Leia at the same age in The Empire Strikes Back, but was 25 to Leia’s 23 in Return of the Jedi.
Fisher returned to play 53-year-old Leia in The Force Awakens at age 58, and The Last Jedi at 60. Tragically, Fisher passed away shortly after filming the latter. Unused and archival footage was repurposed for 54-year-old Leia to appear in The Rise of Skywalker.
Swedish actress Ingvild Delia played Leia’s body double for her brief climactic scene in Rogue One, at age 29.
In Obi-Wan Kenobi, 10-year-old Leia is a major character. She was portrayed by 10-year-old Vivien Lyra Blair.
| Film/Show | Leia’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) | Newborn | Aidan Barton | less than 12 months |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) | 10 years old | Vivien Lyra Blair | 9 years old |
| Rogue One (2016) | 19 years old | Ingvild Delia (body double) | 29 years old |
| Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) | 19 years old | Carrie Fisher | 19 years old |
| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 22 years old | Carrie Fisher | 22 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) | 23 years old | Carrie Fisher | 25 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) | 53 years old | Carrie Fisher | 58 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017) | 53 years old | Carrie Fisher | 60 years old |
| Star Wars Episode: IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | 54 years old | Carrie Fisher | Archival footage |
3. Han Solo
Harrison Ford was 33 during filming of A New Hope, playing 29-year-old Han Solo. He was 36 to Han’s 32 in The Empire Strikes Back, and 39 to Han’s 33 in Return of the Jedi.
Ford returned for The Force Awakens at age 72, when Han was 66 years old. Han Solo was killed in the latter film but returned as a memory ghost in The Rise of Skywalker. Ford returned as Han for the latter film at age 76.
Alden Ehrenreich played a young Han, approximately 20 years old, in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ehrenreich was 27 during filming.
| Film/Show | Han’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) | 20 years old (approximately) | Alden Ehrenreich | 27 years old |
| Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) | 29 years old | Harrison Ford | 33 years old |
| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 32 years old | Harrison Ford | 36 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) | 33 years old | Harrison Ford | 39 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) | 66 years old | Harrison Ford | 72 years old |
| Star Wars Episode: IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | Memory Ghost | Harrison Ford | 76 years old |
4. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Up to nine different actors have helped bring Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader to life in the Star Wars theatrical films.
The original trilogy, with Vader aged 41-45 years old, starred David Prowse (aged 40-46 years old) with James Earl Jones (aged 45-51 years old) doing Vader’s voice. Sebastian Shaw played maskless Vader in Return of the Jedi, at age 77.
For the prequels, 9-year-old Jake Lloyd starred as the same-aged Anakin in The Phantom Menace. Hayden Christensen played 19-year-old Anakin in Attack of the Clones when he was 20, and 22-year-old Anakin in Revenge of the Sith at age 23.
Christensen returned as Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi at age 40, when Vader was 32 years old.
In Rogue One, Spencer Wilding and Daniel Naprous played 41-year-old Vader. James Earl Jones returned as Vader’s voice at age 84.
Jones also voiced Vader in the animated series Star Wars Rebels, when he was aged 82 to 86 years old.
Matt Lanter voiced early-20s Anakin in The Clone Wars for seven seasons, when he was aged 25 to 37.
| Film/Show | Anakin/Vader’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) | 9 years old | Jake Lloyd | 9 years old |
| Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) | 19 years old | Hayden Christensen | 20 years old |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars (seasons 1-6, 2008-2014) | 19-22 years old | Matt Lanter (voice) | 25-31 years old |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars (season 7, 2020) | 22 years old | Matt Lanter (voice) | 37 years old |
| Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) | 22 years old | Hayden Christensen | 23 years old |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) | 32 years old | Hayden Christensen | 40 years old |
| Star Wars Rebels (seasons 1-4, 2014-2018) | 38 years old (approximately) | James Earl Jones (voice) | 82-86 years old |
| Rogue One (2016) | 41 years old | Spencer Wilding (body) Daniel Naprous (body) James Earl Jones (voice) | 42 years old 37 years old 84 years old |
| Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) | 41 years old | David Prowse (body) James Earl Jones (voice) | 40 years old 45 years old |
| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 44 years old | David Prowse (body) James Earl Jones (voice) | 43 years old 48 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) | 45 years old | David Prowse (body) James Earl Jones (voice) Sebastian Shaw (face) | 46 years old 51 years old 77 years old |
Read more: 12 Reasons Anakin Turns Evil
5. Padme Amidala
Natalie Portman was 16 when she donned Queen Amidala’s elaborate headdresses in The Phantom Menace, as 14-year-old Padme. She reprised the role at 19 in Attack of the Clones, when Padme was 24, and 22 in Revenge of the Sith, when Padme was 27.
Catherine Taber voiced mid-20s Padme for seven episodes of The Clone Wars, while she was aged 28 to 40.
| Film/Show | Padme’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) | 14 years old | Natalie Portman | 16 years old |
| Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) | 24 years old | Natalie Portman | 19 years old |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars (seasons 1-6, 2008-2014) | 24-27 years old | Catherine Taber (voice) | 28-34 years old |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars (season 7, 2020) | 27 years old | Catherine Taber (voice) | 40 years old |
| Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) | 27 years old | Natalie Portman | 22 years old |
6. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Sir Alec Guinness originated the role of 57-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi when he was 62. He reprised a Force Ghost Obi-Wan in The Empire Strikes Back, at age 65, and Return of the Jedi, at age 67.
Ewan McGregor played young Obi-Wan in the Star Wars prequels. He was 26 to Obi-Wan’s 25 in the Phantom Menace, 29 to his 35 in Attack of the Clones, and 33 to his 38 in Revenge of the Sith.
McGregor reprised Obi-Wan Kenobi in the titular named live-action series at 50, with Obi-Wan 48-years-old
James Arnold Taylor voiced mid-30s Obi-Wan in seven seasons of the Clone Wars when he was aged 39 to 51.
| Film/Show | Obi-Wan’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) | 25 years old | Ewan McGregor | 26 years old |
| Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) | 35 years old | Ewan McGregor | 29 years old |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars (seasons 1-6, 2008-2014) | 35-38 years old | James Arnold Taylor (voice) | 39-45 years old |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars (season 7, 2020) | 38 years old | James Arnold Taylor (voice) | 51 years old |
| Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) | 38 years old | Ewan McGregor | 33 years old |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) | 48 years old | Ewan McGregor | 50 years old |
| Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) | 57 years old | Alec Guinness | 62 years old |
| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | Force Ghost | Alec Guinness | 65 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) | Force Ghost | Alec Guinness | 67 years old |
7. Rey
Daisy Ridley was 23 when she starred as 19-year-old Rey in The Force Awakens. She reprised the role at 25 in The Last Jedi, set just after The Force Awakens. Ridley was 27 in The Rise of Skywalker, when Rey was 20 years old.
| Film/Show | Rey’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) | 19 years old | Daisy Ridley | 23 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017) | 19 years old | Daisy Ridley | 25 years old |
| Star Wars Episode: IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | 20 years old | Daisy Ridley | 27 years old |
Read more: Who are Rey’s Parents?
8. Finn
John Boyega was 22 during the making of The Force Awakens, playing 23-year-old Finn. He returned at 24 for The Last Jedi, and 26 for The Rise of Skywalker, when Finn was 24 years old.
| Film/Show | Finn’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) | 23 years old | John Boyega | 22 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017) | 23 years old | John Boyega | 24 years old |
| Star Wars Episode: IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | 24 years old | John Boyega | 26 years old |
9. Kylo Ren
Adam Driver was 31 during filming of The Force Awakens, playing 29-year-old Kylo Ren. He was 33 in The Last Jedi, set directly the after previous film, and 35 in The Rise of Skywalker, as 30-year-old Kylo Ren/Ben Solo.
| Film/Show | Kylo’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) | 29 years old | Adam Driver | 31 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017) | 29 years old | Adam Driver | 33 years old |
| Star Wars Episode: IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | 30 years old | Adam Driver | 35 years old |
10. Palpatine
Ian McDiarmid was 37 when he played 88-year-old Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi (that’s right, the wrinkly Emperor was actually younger than Han Solo under that makeup).
This meant he was the perfect age – 54 – to play younger Palpatine in The Phantom Menace, with the character aged 52. McDiarmid reprised the role at 57 in Attack of the Clones, when Palpatine was 62, and at age 60 in Revenge of the Sith when Palpatine was 65.
Palpatine became the surprise villain of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. McDiarmid was 75 in The Rise of Skywalker, as the approximately 118-year-old ‘zombie’ Palpatine.
At age 77, McDiarmid had a brief cameo as 75-year-old Palpatine in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
| Film/Show | Palpatine’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) | 52 years old | Ian McDiarmid | 54 years old |
| Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) | 62 years old | Ian McDiarmid | 57 years old |
| Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) | 65 years old | Ian McDiarmid | 60 years old |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) | 75 years old | Ian McDiarmid | 77 years old |
| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 87 years old | Marjorie Eaton (original edition) Ian McDiarmid (DVD special edition, 2004) | 78 years old 60 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) | 88 years old | Ian McDiarmid | 37 years old |
| Star Wars Episode: IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | 118 years alive/zombiefied | Ian McDiarmid | 75 years old |
11. Lando Calrissian
“Ol’ smoothie” Lando Calrissian was already a surprising 46 years old in The Empire Strikes Back, played by 42-year-old Billy Dee Williams. He reprised Lando for Return of the Jedi at age 45, to Lando’s 47.
Williams returned for The Rise of Skywalker at 82 to play 78-year-old Lando.
Donald Glover played a younger, 34-year-old Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story
| Film/Show | Lando’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) | 33 years old | Donald Glover | 34 years old |
| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 46 years old | Billy Dee Williams | 42 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) | 47 years old | Billy Dee Williams | 45 years old |
| Star Wars Episode: IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | 78 years old | Billy Dee Williams | 82 years old |
12. Poe Dameron
Oscar Isaac was 35 during the filming of The Force Awakens, and 37 in The Last Jedi, as 32-year-old Poe Dameron. He returned at 39 for The Rise of Skywalker to play 33-year-old Poe.
| Film/Show | Poe’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) | 32 years old | Oscar Isaac | 35 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017) | 32 years old | Oscar Isaac | 37 years old |
| Star Wars Episode: IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | 33 years old | Oscar Isaac | 39 years old |
13. The Mandalorian (Din Djarin)
The Mandalorian is in his late 30s during both seasons of the titular named show, as well as in The Book of Boba Fett. Pedro Pascal, the main actor portraying Din Djarin, was 44 during the making of season one, 45 in season two and 46 in The Book of Boba Fett.
Two other actors also play the suited Mandalorian – Brendan Wayne, who was 47 during season one, and Lateef Crowder, who was 41.
| Film/Show | Din’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mandalorian (Season 1, 2019) | 36-39 years old, approximately | Pedro Pascal (voice, face and body) Brendan Wayne (body) Lateef Crowder (body) | 44 years old 47 years old 41 years old |
| The Mandalorian (Season 2, 2020) | 36-39 years old, approximately | Pedro Pascal (voice, face and body) Brendan Wayne (body) Lateef Crowder (body) | 45 years old 48 years old 42 years old |
| The Book of Boba Fett (2021) | 37-40 years old, approximately | Pedro Pascal (voice, face and body) Brendan Wayne (body) Lateef Crowder (body) | 46 years old 49 years old 43 years old |
14. Boba Fett
The iconic bounty hunter was first played by English actor Jeremy Bulloch, who was 34 in The Empire Strikes Back to Boba’s 35. His voice was later dubbed by Temuera Morrison in the 2004 DVD special edition.
Bulloch returned to play Boba Fett in Return of the Jedi, when he was 37.
The next actor to play Boba Fett was 14-year-old Daniel Logan, as a 10-year-old in Attack of the Clones.
Temuera Morrison, who played Jango Fett (the clone on which Boba is based) appeared as Boba Fett in season two of The Mandalorian. Morrison was 59 to Boba’s 41. At 60, Morrison reprised the role in The Book of Boba Fett.
| Film/Show | Boba’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) | 10 years old | Daniel Logan | 14 years old |
| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 35 years old | Jeremy Bulloch Temuera Morrison (DVD special edition, 2004) | 34 years old 43 years old |
| Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) | 36 years old | Jeremy Bulloch | 37 years old |
| The Mandalorian (Season 2, 2020) | 41 years old | Temuera Morrison | 59 years old |
| The Book of Boba Fett (2021) | 41 years old | Temuera Morrison | 60 years old |
15. Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka Tano is the only character on this list not to originate in live-action. Ashley Eckstein voiced mid-teens Ahsoka in The Clone Wars for seven seasons, from age 26 to 38.
Ahsoka’s live-action debut was in season two of The Mandalorian when the character is approximately 45 years old. She was played by 41-year-old Rosario Dawson, who reprised the character in The Book of Boba Fett.
| Film/Show | Ahsoka’s Age | Actor | Actor’s Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars (seasons 1-6, 2008-2014) | 14-17 years old | Ashley Eckstein (voice) | 26-32 years old |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars (season 7, 2020) | 17 years old | Ashley Eckstein (voice) | 38 years old |
| Star Wars Rebels (seasons 1-4, 2014-2018) | 31 years old | Ashley Eckstein (voice) | 32-37 years old |
| The Mandalorian (Season 2, 2020) | 45 years old | Rosario Dawson | 41 years old |
| The Book of Boba Fett (2021) | 45 years old | Rosario Dawson | 42 years old |
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