Filmmaker George Lucas introduced arguably the most sinister and menacing villain in cinema with 1977’s Star Wars. The film features the first appearance of Sith Lord Darth Vader, a commander in the evil Empire and the symbol of their oppression over the galaxy far, far away. The character quickly became iconic and remains part of the pop culture zeitgeist even today.
However, fans might be unaware that five different actors have portrayed the character in live-action media. As a result, fans of the space opera saga must be curious to learn about different figures who contributed to bringing the menacing villain to life. Before we get into the five most well-known faces behind Darth Vader, an honorable mention goes to Spencer Wilding and Daniel Naprous who physically played the character for 2016’s Rogue One.
5. Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson was an Olympic fencer and fight choreographer, who significantly contributed to Vader’s appearances during George Lucas‘ original trilogy. Anderson was responsible for performing the character’s stunt scenes, especially the lightsaber duel sequences starting with the 1977 original film. He later contributed to the Lord of the Rings franchise as a sword master before passing away in 2012.
4. David Prowse
David Prowse is the name fans must be most aware of when it comes to the physical portrayal of Darth Vader. The English actor arguably spent the most amount of time in the iconic mechanical suit, portraying Vader for the original trilogy. Fans mostly remember Prowse for bringing a dominating physical presence to the role, which he also reprised for a few video games. Prowse passed away in 2020, aged 85.
3. Sebastian Shaw
Actor Sebastian Shaw‘s time as Darth Vader might have been brief, appearing in the Return of the Jedi, but his face is imprinted in the minds of viewers who witnessed the film in theaters when it first came out. Shaw played the redeemed Anakin Skywalker in the movie and his face is seen after Vader is unmasked and as a Force Ghost in the closing moments. The veteran actor unfortunately passed away in 1994.
2. James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is arguably the most well-known name associated with playing Darth Vader. The Mississippi-born actor was hired by George Lucas to voice Vader as he wanted a darker voice for the villainous character. Jones continued voicing the character beyond the original trilogy, retiring from the role after 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. He sadly passed away in September 2024, aged 93.
1. Hayden Christensen
Actor Hayden Christensen was initially cast to play the role of Anakin Skywalker when Lucas decided to go back and do the prequels. Despite getting mixed reactions for his portrayal of the character in the prequel trilogy, Christensen returned to the franchise for the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries, where he also donned the Darth Vader suit. As a result, Christensen remains Vader for a generation of Star Wars fans who grew up with the prequels.
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