The Star Wars cast for the 1977 original is led by Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa. Peter Cushing plays Grand Moff Tarkin and Alec Guinness plays Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi. Darth Vader is split between two actors: David Prowse wears the costume and James Earl Jones, who is uncredited, provides the voice. Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Peter Mayhew also hold top billing as C-3PO, R2-D2 and Chewbacca. Star Wars (1977), directed by George Lucas, opened in the US on May 25, 1977, and TMDB lists 105 roles in its credits. Because it is the first film in the saga, nobody in the ensemble returns from an earlier entry and there are no recasts. According to the Academy, Guinness was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 50th Academy Awards for his performance.
| # | Actor | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Hamill | Luke Skywalker |
| 2 | Harrison Ford | Han Solo |
| 3 | Carrie Fisher | Princess Leia Organa |
| 4 | Peter Cushing | Grand Moff Tarkin |
| 5 | Alec Guinness | Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi |
| 6 | Anthony Daniels | C-3PO |
| 7 | Kenny Baker | R2-D2 |
| 8 | Peter Mayhew | Chewbacca |
| 9 | David Prowse | Darth Vader (performer) |
| 10 | James Earl Jones | Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) |
| 11 | Phil Brown | Uncle Owen |
| 12 | Shelagh Fraser | Aunt Beru |
| 13 | Jack Purvis | Chief Jawa |
| 14 | Alex McCrindle | General Dodonna |
| 15 | Eddie Byrne | General Willard |
| 16 | Drewe Henley | Red Leader |
| 17 | Denis Lawson | Red Two (Wedge Antilles) |
| 18 | Garrick Hagon | Red Three (Biggs Darklighter) |
| 19 | Jack Klaff | Red Four (John "D") |
| 20 | William Hootkins | Red Six (Porkins) |
| 21 | Angus MacInnes | Gold Leader |
| 22 | Jeremy Sinden | Gold Two |
| 23 | Graham Ashley | Gold Five |
| 24 | Don Henderson | General Taggi |
Billing order from the film's credits (TMDB). Actors with a Cinvibe page and characters with a character page are linked.
Also in the cast: Richard LeParmentier (General Motti), Leslie Schofield (Commander #1), Michael Leader (Stormtrooper), David Ankrum (Red Two, Wedge Antilles (voice) (uncredited)), Scott Beach (Stormtrooper (voice) (uncredited)), Lightning Bear (Stormtrooper (uncredited)), Jon Berg (Cantina Alien (uncredited)), Doug Beswick (Cantina Alien (uncredited)), Paul Blake (Greedo (uncredited)), Janice Burchette (Nabrun Leids (uncredited)), Ted Burnett (Wuher (uncredited)), John Chapman (Drifter (Red 12) (uncredited)), Gilda Cohen (Cantina Patron (uncredited)), Tim Condren (Stormtrooper (uncredited)), Barry Copping (Wioslea (uncredited)), Alfie Curtis (Dr. Evazan (uncredited)), Robert Davies (Cantina Patron (uncredited)), Maria De Aragon (Greedo (uncredited)), Robert A. Denham (Hrchek Kal Fas (uncredited)), Frazer Diamond (Jawa (uncredited)), Peter Diamond (Stormtrooper / Tusken Raider / Death Star Trooper / Garouf Lafoe (uncredited)), Warwick Diamond (Jawa (uncredited)), Sadie Eden (Garindan (uncredited)), Kim Falkinburg (Djas Puhr (uncredited)), Harry Fielder (Death Star Trooper (uncredited)), Ted Gagliano (Stormtrooper with Binoculars (uncredited)), Salo Gardner (Cantina Patron (uncredited)), Steve Gawley (Death Star Trooper (uncredited)), Barry Gnome (Kabe (uncredited)), Rusty Goffe (Kabe / Jawa / GONK Droid (uncredited)), Isaac Grand (Cantina Patron (uncredited)), Reg Harding (Stormtrooper (uncredited)), Alan Harris (Leia's Rebel Escort (uncredited)), Frank Henson (Stormtrooper (uncredited)), Arthur Howell (Stormtrooper (uncredited)), Tommy Ilsley (Ponda Baba (uncredited)), Joe Johnston (Spacetrooper / Death Star gunner (uncredited)), Linda Jones (Chall Bekan (uncredited)), Joe Kaye (Solomohal (uncredited)), Colin Michael Kitchens (Stormtrooper (voice) (uncredited)), Melissa Kurtz (Jawa (uncredited)), Tiffany Hillkurtz (Jawa (uncredited)), Al Lampert (Daine Jir (uncredited)), Anthony Lang (BoShek (uncredited)), Derek Lyons (Temple Guard / Medal Bearer (uncredited)), Mahjoub (Jawa (uncredited)), Alf Mangan (Takeel (uncredited)), Grant McCune (Death Star Gunner (uncredited)), Geoffrey Moon (Cantina Patron (uncredited)), Mandy Morton (Swilla Corey (uncredited)), Lorne Peterson (Massassi Base Rebel Scout (uncredited)), Marcus Powell (Rycar Ryjerd (uncredited)), Shane Rimmer (InCom Engineer (uncredited)), Pam Rose (Leesub Sirln (uncredited)), George Roubicek (Cmdr. Praji (Imperial Officer #2 on rebel ship) (uncredited)), Erica Simmons (Tawss Khaa (uncredited)), Angela Staines (Senni Tonnika (uncredited)), George Stock (Cantina Patron (uncredited)), Roy Straite (Cantina Patron (uncredited)), Peter Sturgeon (Sai'torr Kal Fas (uncredited)), Peter Sumner (Lt. Pol Treidum (uncredited)), John Sylla (Cantina Voices (voice) (uncredited)), Tom Sylla (Massassi Outpost Announcer / Various Voices (voice) (uncredited)), Malcolm Tierney (Lt. Shann Childsen (uncredited)), Phil Tippett (Cantina Alien (uncredited)), Burnell Tucker (Del Goren (uncredited)), Morgan Upton (Stormtrooper (voice) (uncredited)), Jerry Walter (Stormtrooper (voice) (uncredited)), Hal Wamsley (Jawa (uncredited)), Diana Sadley Way (Thuku (uncredited)), Bill Weston (Stormtrooper (uncredited)), Fred Wood (Cantina Patron (uncredited)), Colin Higgins (Rebel Pilot, Col. Takbright (uncredited)), Ron Tarr (Jabba's Henchman (uncredited)), Anthony Forrest (Sandtrooper / Fixer (uncredited)), John Cannon (Stormtrooper (uncredited)), Larry Ward (Greedo (voice) (uncredited)), Eddie Eddon (Pello Scrambas (uncredited)), Rick McCallum (Stormtrooper (uncredited)), Steve Williams (Mos Eisley Citizen (uncredited)) and 1 more credited roles.
Mark Hamill plays Luke Skywalker, the Tatooine farm boy who finds Leia's hidden message inside R2-D2 in Star Wars (1977). ABC News reports that Hamill was paid $1,000 a week and worked 70 days of the shoot, more than either of his fellow leads. According to the official Star Wars site, his first recorded line was filmed in Tunisia but was never used in the finished film.
Harrison Ford plays Han Solo, the smuggler whose ship carries Luke and Obi-Wan away from Tatooine in Star Wars (1977). ABC News reports that casting director Fred Roos arranged for Ford to be doing carpentry at the casting office while George Lucas was there, and Roos recalled that the idea then clicked for Lucas. Ford was paid $750 a week and worked 42 days.
Carrie Fisher plays Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars (1977), hiding the stolen Death Star plans inside R2-D2 before Darth Vader captures her. ABC News reports that Fisher arrived in London in April 1976 for costume fittings, ahead of her studio scenes, and that she was paid $850 a week across 37 days of work.
Peter Cushing plays Grand Moff Tarkin, the Imperial commander of the Death Star in Star Wars (1977), with Darth Vader serving under him. ABC News reports that Cushing was paid substantially more than the three younger leads. Carrie Fisher later recalled that the lavender water he wore made one of her lines hard to deliver.
Alec Guinness plays Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi, the Tatooine hermit for whom Leia's message is meant in Star Wars (1977). ABC News reports that he was reluctant to take a science fiction role until he read the script, and that he was paid 15,000 British pounds a week plus 2 percent of net profits. The Academy later nominated him for Best Supporting Actor.
Anthony Daniels plays C-3PO, the droid who escapes to Tatooine with R2-D2 in Star Wars (1977). The official Star Wars site says Daniels was among the first people signed to the project, in 1975, and credits Ralph McQuarrie's concept art with drawing him to the part. ABC News adds that he had at first resisted the idea of acting in a science fiction film.
Kenny Baker plays R2-D2, the droid carrying the Death Star plans and Leia's plea for help in Star Wars (1977). NPR reports that Baker, who stood 3 feet 8 inches tall, performed unseen inside the droid in six Star Wars films. The official Star Wars site notes that during the Tunisia shoot he struggled to hide his legs while shaking the droid.
Peter Mayhew plays Chewbacca, the Wookiee who flies alongside Han Solo in Star Wars (1977). The Associated Press reports that Mayhew was working as a hospital orderly in London when George Lucas cast him, and that Lucas called him the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee. ABC News gives April 9, 1976 as his first day on the London set.
David Prowse plays Darth Vader on screen in Star Wars (1977), wearing the black armor and helmet while James Earl Jones dubs his lines. The Associated Press reports that Prowse, a three time British weightlifting champion, was asked by George Lucas to audition for either Vader or Chewbacca. He wore the Vader costume again in the next two films of the saga.
James Earl Jones voices Darth Vader in Star Wars (1977), replacing the lines David Prowse spoke on set. Variety reports that Jones declined screen credit on this film and on The Empire Strikes Back out of deference to Prowse, which is why the TMDB credits list him as uncredited. ABC News says his recording session took about two and a half hours.
Phil Brown plays Uncle Owen, the Tatooine farmer who buys C-3PO and R2-D2 from the Jawas and is raising Luke in Star Wars (1977). The official Star Wars site records that Brown spoke the first line of dialogue in a Star Wars production, a gruff reply to the Jawa merchant. He said it during the droid sale scene, the first shot of principal photography, filmed in Tunisia on March 22, 1976.
Shelagh Fraser plays Aunt Beru in Star Wars (1977), sharing the Lars homestead on Tatooine with Owen and Luke. She was on location in Tunisia, and the official Star Wars site notes that Mark Hamill delivered his first, unused line while pretending to look down at her. When TV Guide reported her death in 2000, it described Beru as the role she was best known for.
The Star Wars cast came together between 1975 and the spring of 1976, starting with C-3PO. According to the official Star Wars site, Anthony Daniels was among the first people signed, in 1975, when the project was still a serial inspired space opera called The Star Wars. Principal photography began in the Tunisian desert on March 22, 1976, and Phil Brown, Mark Hamill, Shelagh Fraser, Daniels and Kenny Baker were among the actors on location.
The three leads were hired on weekly fees. ABC News puts them at $1,000 for Hamill, $850 for Carrie Fisher and $750 for Harrison Ford, while Alec Guinness took a weekly fee in pounds plus a share of net profits. Ford's route to the part ran through casting director Fred Roos, who arranged for him to be doing carpentry at the casting office while George Lucas was there. For the large costumed roles, Lucas asked David Prowse to audition for either Darth Vader or Chewbacca, according to the Associated Press, and Chewbacca went to Peter Mayhew, a London hospital orderly. Plot, crew and release details are on the star wars a new hope page.
Nobody returns in Star Wars (1977), because it is the first film in the saga and every actor in its credits is appearing in the franchise for the first time. The official Star Wars site records that Phil Brown spoke the first line filmed, in Tunisia. ABC News places Carrie Fisher in London in April 1976 and Peter Mayhew on the London set from April 9, 1976. According to the BFI, the Tunisia leg lasted about two and a half weeks, and the production then filled all nine stages at Elstree Studios.
Some of these performers went on to repeat their roles. The Associated Press notes that David Prowse wore the Vader costume again in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and NPR counts six Star Wars films for Kenny Baker inside R2-D2. The star wars movies guide covers the saga film by film.
| Director | George Lucas |
|---|---|
| Writers | George Lucas |
| Producers | Gary Kurtz |
| Music | John Williams |
| Cinematography | Gilbert Taylor |
Two actors played Darth Vader in Star Wars (1977): David Prowse wore the costume on set and James Earl Jones supplied the voice. Variety reports that Jones declined screen credit for this film out of deference to Prowse, so the TMDB credits list him as uncredited. According to the Associated Press, Prowse played the role physically again in 1980 and 1983.
Mark Hamill played Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars, and he is billed first in the credits. ABC News reports that he worked 70 days on the production, the most of the three leads, at a weekly salary of $1,000. In early filming the character's surname was still Starkiller, and it was changed to Skywalker about a month later.
Yes, Harrison Ford is in Star Wars (1977) as Han Solo, and he is billed second, behind Mark Hamill. ABC News reports that Ford worked 42 days on the film for $750 a week. He reached George Lucas after casting director Fred Roos arranged for him to be doing carpentry at the casting office.
Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin are the villains of Star Wars (1977). Tarkin, played by Peter Cushing, commands the Death Star, the Empire's planet destroying battle station. Vader, performed by David Prowse and voiced by James Earl Jones, captures Princess Leia at the start of the film, after Rebel spies have stolen the station's plans.
Yes, Alec Guinness was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 50th Academy Awards for Star Wars (1977), according to the Academy's records. The award went to Jason Robards for Julia. That year the film won seven of its eleven nominations, including Costume Design, Film Editing, Sound, Visual Effects and Original Score.
TMDB lists 105 roles for Star Wars (1977), running from the twelve top billed actors down to cantina patrons, Jawas and stormtroopers. Many smaller parts are uncredited on screen, including Greedo, who is listed under both Paul Blake and Maria De Aragon. The pilots include Denis Lawson as Red Two (Wedge Antilles) and Garrick Hagon as Red Three (Biggs Darklighter).
Star Wars the Adventure Continues most likely refers to Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, a flight simulator with digital 3D video and more than 250 possible storyline variations.
James Earl Jones was an American actor who voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King.
Darth Maul is Darth Sidious's former Sith apprentice, who survives being cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi and later becomes a criminal leader.
Darth Plagueis is a Muun Sith Lord who trained Darth Sidious, also known as Palpatine.
The commando droid is a Separatist battle droid that stands 1.91 meters tall and serves during the Clone Wars.
Vader's TIE fighter is the TIE Advanced X1, an experimental fighter listed at 5.8 meters long.