Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill (born in Oakland, California on September 25, 1951) is an actor and voice actor, best known for his portrayal of farmboy-turned-Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars films. Hamill's film career since Star Wars has been mostly connected to lower-budget science fiction movies that went straight to video, but he has been successful on Broadway, as a voice actor in animation and video games, and as a comic book creator.

In January 11, 1977, on the way to shoot one of the final scenes needed for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Hamill was involved in a car accident that caused substantial damage to his face. A double was used for the scene of Luke racing across the desert in his landspeeder while Mark was hospitalized. Supposedly, he was told by his surgeons that although facial reconstruction surgery could save his career in the short term, it would have only temporary results. Over time, the scarring would become increasingly visible, and he would have to rethink his acting career.

In an A&E Network Biography special, "Mark Hamill: A Force to Be Reckoned With," the auto accident and its consequences are recounted by Mark's family.

As a result of this scarring, Hamill wore an extensive amount of facial makeup when he reprised his role as Luke for The Star Wars Holiday Special, which was released in 1978. An in-universe explaination for his scarring was developed for Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is mauled by a Wampa.

Hamill married Marilou York in the same year; they have three children - Nathan Elias, Griffin Tobias and Chelsea Elizabeth. Mark Hamill is also the co-writer of The Black Pearl, a comic book mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics.

Trivia

 * Mark Hamill has also provided the voice acting for several animated characters in the past decade such as Firelord Ozai on the hit cartoon series Avatar:The Last Airbender, The Joker on Batman: The Animated Series & Justice League, Skeleton King on Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go, Undergrowth on Danny Phantom and Hobgoblin on Spider-Man: The Animated Series.


 * Mark Hamill was featured in the Kevin Smith comedy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Here he plays the villain "Cocknocker" in the in-movie Bluntman and Chronic movie. He fights Jay and Silent Bob using "bluntsabers" and gets his giant right hand cut off, to which he sullenly replies, "Not again". His appearance was accompanied by an on-screen caption, "Hey kids, it's Mark Hamill! (applause)".


 * Mark Hamill appeared on The Simpsons episode "Mayored to the Mob", where he refuses to use his lightsaber because "George Lucas makes us pay for these!"


 * George Lucas once asked Mark Hamill if he would be interested in reprising the role of Luke as an Obi-Wan type character who passes on the torch to the next generation of Jedi Knights in a Star Wars sequel trilogy (episodes 7-9) and that it would be made around 2011. Lucas recently dismissed it as nothing more than an off-hand comment.


 * He has also expressed interest in playing a new role in the new Star Wars Live-Action Series.

Work in Star Wars

 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Vector Prime TV commercial
 * The Muppet Show