Darth Vader
| Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader | |
|---|---|
| Star Wars character | |
Darth Vader at Disney's Jedi Training Academy attraction | |
| First appearance | Star Wars (1977) |
| Created by | George Lucas |
| Portrayed by | Various
|
| Voiced by | Various
|
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Anakin Skywalker |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
|
| Affiliation |
|
| Family |
|
| Spouse | Padmé Amidala (wife) |
| Children |
|
| Master |
|
| Apprentice |
|
| Homeworld | Tatooine |
Darth Vader (/dɑːrθ ˈveɪdər/) is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He was first introduced in the original film trilogy as the primary antagonist and one of the leaders of the Galactic Empire. He has become one of the most iconic villains of cinema.[a]
The prequel trilogy chronicles Vader's childhood as a precocious human slave named Anakin Skywalker, liberation by the Jedi Order, and young adulthood as a morally conflicted Jedi Knight, under the mentorship of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Skywalker is secretly lured into the Sith warrior cult by the Galactic Republic politician Palpatine. When Palpatine seizes control of the galaxy as its Emperor, Skywalker betrays the Jedi Order and, during a duel with Kenobi, is severely mutilated and thereafter transformed into a cyborg whom Palpatine rebrands as the Sith lord Darth Vader. He serves the Emperor for over two decades, hunting down the remaining Jedi and attempting to crush the Rebel Alliance who oppose the new Empire. Finally, when Palpatine tries to kill Vader's son Luke, the Sith lord turns against his master, leading to the mutual destruction of Palpatine and Vader, which effectively brings the Empire to its end.
In secret, Vader is the husband of Padmé Amidala, the father of Luke Skywalker and his twin sister Leia Organa, and the grandfather of Ben Solo (later known as Kylo Ren).[b]
David Prowse physically portrays Vader in the original trilogy, while James Earl Jones provides his voice in all of the films and some television series. Sebastian Shaw portrays Anakin in Return of the Jedi (1983),[c] while Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christensen portray Anakin in the prequel trilogy, with Christensen reprising the role in the series Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) and Ahsoka (2023). In the standalone film Rogue One (2016), Vader is portrayed by Spencer Wilding and Daniel Naprous. The character also appears in novels, comics, and video games.
- ^ Diaz, Jesus (July 31, 2018). "How Darth Vader became the most iconic evil figure in film history". Fast Company. Archived from the original on April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "Darth Vader – #1 Top 100 Villain". IGN. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ Shea, Andrea (February 18, 2008). "Darth Vader: The Tragic Man Behind the Mask". NPR. Archived from the original on April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Warmann, Amon (February 28, 2024). "Hayden Christensen: The Master Of The Dark Side Speaks". Empire. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ "Anakin Skywalker". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ "Darth Vader". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Hidalgo & Sansweet 2008c, p. 163.
- ^ Shkoukani, Emily. "Like Grandfather, Like Grandson". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Unscripted With Hayden Christensen and George Lucas". Moviefone. May 19, 2005. Event occurs at 7:15. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
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