Obi-Wan Kenobi

"Obi-Wan is a great mentor; as wise as Master Yoda, and as powerful as Master Windu."

- Anakin Skywalker

Obi-Wan Kenobi, later known as Ben Kenobi during his exile, was a legendary Jedi Master who played a significant role in the fate of the galaxy during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. He was the mentor of both Anakin and Luke Skywalker, training both in the ways of the Force. He had a long and tumultuous career that helped shape the fate of the entire galaxy.

Biography
Kenobi was taken as the Padawan of Qui-Gon Jinn and traveled on many missions with him. During the Battle of Naboo, Kenobi became the first Jedi in approximately 1,000 years to defeat a Sith Lord in combat when he defeated Darth Maul during the Battle of Naboo, yet lost his master in the same duel. Ten years later, Kenobi discovered a clone army being developed on Kamino, leading to the birth of the Grand Army of the Republic and the beginning of the galaxy-wide Clone Wars.

Kenobi participated many battles of the Clone Wars, and was one of the last members of the Jedi High Council. Even after his apprentice became a Jedi Knight, Kenobi and Skywalker fought together many times, becoming a widely renowned pair. Kenobi earned the sobriquet "The Negotiator" through his charm and calm demeanor as well as the quiet threat of his abilities with a lightsaber. During the war, Kenobi clashed multiple times with Darth Maul—presumed dead after their duel ten years earlier—and the criminal empire the Sith Lord created in his quest for revenge against the Jedi Knight. He eventually contributed to ending the war by killing General Grievous on Utapau.

In the waning days of the Clone Wars, Kenobi was one of the few survivors of Order 66. He discovered that Skywalker had fallen to the dark side and become the Sith Lord Darth Vader subservient to Palpatine, now ruler of the newly established Galactic Empire. Kenobi dueled his former apprentice and friend on Mustafar, ultimately leaving Vader to die on the planet's fiery surface. He subsequently brought Skywalker and Padmé Amidala's newborn son, Luke, to live with the Lars family on Tatooine, watching over and befriending the boy as he grew up.

During the intervening years, Kenobi recorded a Holocron, which was discovered by Ezra Bridger.

Kenobi re-emerged 19 years later when Leia Organa, Vader's daughter and Luke Skywalker's twin sister, contacted him desperately to aid the Rebel Alliance against the Empire. Luke accompanied Kenobi on his mission to Alderaan in Han Solo's Millennium Falcon, only to find the planet destroyed by the Death Star. Kenobi re-encountered Vader on board the monstrous station and, in a final duel, gave his life up to his former apprentice to allow Luke's escape. His Force spirit continued to watch over young Skywalker until he was finally reunited with the good Anakin Skywalker in death.

Satine Kryze
"I've loved you from the moment you came to my aid all those years ago.''" [&hellip;] "''Had you said the word, I would have left the Jedi Order."

- Satine and Kenobi

As Qui-Gon Jinn's Padawan, Kenobi went on a mission to protect Satine Kryze. They were always on the run from bounty hunters and they never knew what would happen next. Kenobi saved Kryze in at least one instance when he was a Padawan. In the Clone Wars, their feelings for each other resurfaced. Their relationship also never developed and they broke off the affair to focus on their mutual responsibilities as peacekeepers.

Behind the scenes
For A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi was played by Sir Alec Guinness, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (the only acting-related Academy Award nomination for any Star Wars film). Guinness reprised the role as Kenobi's ghost in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is played by Ewan McGregor in The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. James Arnold Taylor voiced Kenobi in the The Clone Wars film and TV series, as well as Star Wars Rebels.

Despite great critical acclaim, Alec Guinness disliked being associated solely with the role of Kenobi. To limit his role in the trilogy, it was reportedly Guinness's own idea that Ben should die on the Death Star.

However, as stated in The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film, it is Lucas who originally came up with the idea of having Ben die, to which Guinness initially objected. After explaining that Ben would have little to do in the story after the Millennium Falcon escaped from the Death Star, Lucas was able to successfully convince him to allow it.