Mark Hamill

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Images

Publicity still from Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980, dir. Irvin Kershner) featuring Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker carrying Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) on his back in a swamp backpack on Dagobah. Young Luke, in tank top and suspenders with shaggy brown hair, strides forward with determined expression amid misty twisted trees and fog.

Publicity still from Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015, dir. J.J. Abrams) showing Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker on a misty island cliff in gray Jedi robes and hooded cloak. He stands pensively with long gray hair, beard, and raised hand against foggy peaks and ocean waves.

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, and Harrison Ford as Han Solo pose together in costume from Star Wars 1977.

Quick Facts

In full:: Mark Richard Hamill

Awards And Honors:: BAFTA (2012)

Married To:: Marilou York (1978–present)

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "The Savage Dragon" (1995); "Spider-Man" (1995–1998); "Medical Center" (1976); "Justice League" (2002–2003); "Pepper Ann" (1998–2000); "Wizards" (1977); "Adventure Time" (2010–2014); "The Raffle" (1994); "The Magician" (1973); "ABC Weekend Specials" (1993–1994); "Night Gallery" (1972); "The Legend of Prince Valiant" (1992); "Mission Force One" (2015–2018); "The Problem Solverz" (2011); "Wing Commander" (1999); "The Outer Limits" (1996); "Lucas Tanner" (1975); "Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles" (2006); "Nightcap" (2017); "Dexter's Laboratory" (2002); "Go Fish" (2019); "What a Mess" (1995); "Red Planet" (1994); "The What a Cartoon Show" (1995–1997); "Man Down" (2016); "Codename: Kids Next Door" (2002–2007); "Insight" (1974); "Sushi Girl" (2012); "Cannon" (1971); "Airborne" (2012); "Danny Phantom" (2006); "Teamo Supremo" (2002–2003); "Birds of Prey" (2002); "The Garfield Show" (2008–2013); "Super Structures of the World" (1998); "Midnight Ride" (1990); "The Incredible Hulk" (1996–1997); "Star Wars: Forces of Destiny" (2018); "SpongeBob SquarePants" (2007); "The Cleveland Show" (2011); "Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron" (1993–1994); "The Stinky & Dirty Show" (2018–2019); "The Super Hero Squad Show" (2010–2011); "Child's Play" (2019); "Time Squad" (2001–2003); "Con Man" (2018); "Son of the Beach" (2000–2002); "One Day at a Time" (1976); "Hamilton" (1998); "Totally Spies!" (2002); "Royalties" (2020); "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (2005–2008); "Garfield and Friends" (1994); "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" (2015); "The Last Kids on Earth" (2019–2020); "Tasty Time with ZeFronk" (2008–2013); "Ben 10: Omniverse" (2014); "Brickleberry" (2013); "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return" (2017); "Weird City" (2019); "Danger Rangers" (2003–2006); "Loonatics Unleashed" (2006); "My Friends Tigger & Pooh" (2007–2008); "Space Cases" (1996); "Britannia Hospital" (1982); "The F.B.I." (1972); "Chuck" (2011); "Superman" (1997); "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes" (2010); "The Little Mermaid" (1993); "The Legend of Calamity Jane" (1997); "Hamilton" (2001); "MADtv" (2000); "Petrocelli" (1975); "Bruno the Kid" (1996); "The Flash" (2015–2016); "The Blues Brothers Animated Series" (1997); "Slipstream" (1989); "Corvette Summer" (1978); "It's True!" (1998); "Headmaster" (1970); "Rick & Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World" (2008); "The Streets of San Francisco" (1975–1977); "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" (2014–2015); "Hooperman" (1989); "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" (1977); "The Big Bang Theory" (2018); "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" (2001); "Milo Murphy's Law" (2017–2019); "La chute des aigles" (1989); "Biker Mice from Mars" (1993); "Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!" (2004–2005); "Wing Commander Academy" (1996); "Dimension 404" (2017); "Bronk" (1975); "The Woody Woodpecker Show" (1999–2001); "Johnny Bravo" (1997–2004); "The Oblongs..." (2001); "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back" (1980); "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command" (2000); "Bonkers" (1994); "Dragons: Race to the Edge" (2017–2018); "Pinky and the Brain" (1997); "Just Shoot Me!" (1998); "Stuart Little" (2003); "Oh Yeah! Cartoons" (1998–2000); "Batman: The Killing Joke" (2016); "Brigsby Bear" (2017); "Back to the Sea" (2012); "Kulipari: An Army of Frogs" (2016); "Ultimate Spider-Man" (2012–2016); "The Venture Bros." (2018); "Cow and Chicken" (1998); "The Simpsons" (1998); "Gravity Falls" (2014); "The New Scooby-Doo Movies" (1973); "What We Do in the Shadows" (2020); "Transformers: Rescue Bots" (2014–2016); "The Texas Wheelers" (1974–1975); "Generator Rex" (2010–2012); "Laserhawk" (1997); "Fantastic Four" (1994–1995); "Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law" (1972–1973); "Eight Is Enough" (1977); "Reeseville" (2003); "Grim & Evil" (2002–2003); "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (2017); "Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero" (2017); "The Partridge Family" (1971); "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi" (1983); "Dan Vs." (2011); "New Looney Tunes" (2019); "Castle in the Sky" (1986); "Happy Tree Friends" (2008); "Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?" (2019–2020); "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance" (2019); "The Boondocks" (2010); "Jeannie" (1973); "The Tick" (1996); "Room 222" (1973); "Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists" (2000); "Dragons: Riders of Berk" (2012–2014); "The Flash" (1991); "Rocket Power" (2002); "Silk Degrees" (1994); "Avengers Assemble" (2017–2019); "Family Guy" (2003); "Cartoon Cartoon Fridays" (2001); "Thru the Moebius Strip" (2005); "Random! Cartoons" (2007); "Thank You, Good Night" (2001); "Legend of Hallowaiian" (2018); "Trollhunters" (2017–2018); "Justice League Action" (2016–2018); "Wizards" (2020); "Fred Flintstone and Friends" (1977); "General Hospital" (1963); "V.I.P." (2001); "Static Shock" (2002); "Justice League Action Shorts" (2017); "The Wrong Coast" (2004); "Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa" (1993); "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" (1981); "Burke's Law" (1994); "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2014); "Kingsman: The Secret Service" (2014); "Uncle Grandpa" (2016); "Men in Black: The Series" (1998); "Motorcity" (2012–2013); "Adventures from the Book of Virtues" (1996–1998); "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" (1993); "Bunyan and Babe" (2017); "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law" (2005); "Regular Show" (2009–2017); "Batman: The Animated Series" (1992–1994); "Black Magic Woman" (1991); ".COM" (1999); "Phantom 2040" (1994–1995); "Transformers: Power of the Primes" (2018); "The Big Red One" (1980); "Walking Across Egypt" (1999); "Robot Chicken" (2005–2019); "Seaquest DSV" (1995); "Howard Lovecraft & the Undersea Kingdom" (2017); "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated" (2012); "Casper" (1996); "Regular Show: The Movie" (2015); "NTSF:SD:SUV" (2011); "Wolf Tracer's Dinosaur Island" (2004); "Samurai Jack" (2001); "Virtually Heroes" (2013); "Kulipari: Dream Walker" (2018); "The Manhunter" (1974); "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" (2010); "Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker" (2019); "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" (2002–2003); "Watchers Reborn" (1998); "Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!" (2015); "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" (1984); "Zevo-3" (2010); "Village of the Damned" (1995); "Turbo FAST" (2013–2014); "Justice League Unlimited" (2006); "Criminal Minds" (2013); "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1987); "American Dad!" (2019); "Hero Factory" (2010–2012); "The Batman" (2006); "The Ren & Stimpy Show" (1995); "Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey" (2010); "Batman Beyond" (2000); "The New Batman Adventures" (1997–1999); "Metalocalypse" (2006–2013); "The Neighbors" (2013); "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest" (1996–1997); "Knightfall" (2019); "Biker Mice from Mars" (2006); "The Bill Cosby Show" (1970); "Guyver" (1991); "Hollywood Off-Ramp" (2000); "Spider-Man" (2018); "The Powerpuff Girls" (1999–2000); "Zorro" (1997–1998); "Amazing Stories" (1986); "IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix" (2005); "Stripperella" (2003); "Battle for Terra" (2007); "Time Runner" (1993); "Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi" (2017); "Hey Arnold!" (1996); "I Am Weasel" (1998)

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Mark Hamill

Q: What is Mark Hamill most famous for?

American actor Mark Hamill is regarded as a pop culture phenomenon for playing the Jedi Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise (1977–) and voicing the DC Comics supervillain, the Joker , in various animated series and video games. He also has a successful stage career and has appeared in plays such as The Elephant Man (1981) and Amadeus (1983).

Q: How did Mark Hamill start his acting career?

Mark Hamill’s early career included roles in TV series such as General Hospital and The Bill Cosby Show . He also voiced Corey Anders in Jeannie and starred in The Texas Wheelers .

Q: Why is the Wampa attack scene in Star Wars famous?

Fans have speculated that the scene in which Luke Skywalker is mauled by a Wampa in Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back (1980) was added to account for actor Mark Hamill’s facial injuries from a car accident.

American actor

Also known as: Mark Richard Hamill

Written by

Sanat Pai RaikarAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Sep. 25, 2026 •History

What is Mark Hamill most famous for?

How did Mark Hamill start his acting career?

Why is the Wampa attack scene in Star Wars famous?

American actor Mark Hamill has the distinction of having resisted typecasting so successfully that the two defining roles of his career—the heroic Luke Skywalker of the Star Wars franchise and the animated version of the DC Comics supervillain the Joker—occupy extreme ends of the moral spectrum. Regarded as a pop culture phenomenon for his work in both roles, Hamill also has significant achievements outside the franchises, including on the Broadway stage.

Meet Mark Hamill

Birthday: September 25, 1951
Birthplace: Oakland, California, U.S.
Family: Married Marilou York in 1978; they have three children.
Known for: Playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise and voicing the Joker in animated series and video games

Early life

Mark Hamill was the fourth of seven children born to William Thomas Hamill and Virginia Suzanne Hamill. His father was a career officer in the United States Navy, which meant that the family moved often. The Hamills spent time in Virginia, New York, and California, as well as in Japan. Mark Hamill has said in interviews that he clashed with his father over his love for comic books and fantasy movies.

Hamill graduated in 1969 from Nile C. Kinnick High School on a U.S. base in Yokosuka, Japan. He was president of the student council and a member of the school’s drama club. He then studied drama at Los Angeles City College, working multiple jobs, including as a janitor, to pay his bills.

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Acting career and Star Wars

Hamill’s early career included recurring or guest roles on TV series such as General Hospital (1963–) and The Bill Cosby Show (1969–71). In 1973 he voiced Corey Anders, the male lead in the Hanna-Barbera animated series Jeannie. He also had a starring role in the sitcom The Texas Wheelers, which aired for a single season in 1974–75, and a voice role in Ralph Bakshi’s animated film Wizards (1977).

In 1975, based on a tip from his friend Robert Englund (who would become known for his role as the killer Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street [1984]), Hamill auditioned for a fantasy film with the draft title The Adventures of Luke Starkiller, directed by George Lucas. Other actors who were screen-tested included Kurt Russell. Hamill was cast as Luke (with the last name changed to Skywalker), who joins rebel forces fighting the evil Galactic Empire and discovers his true heritage as a Jedi. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Alec Guinness were cast alongside him as Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, respectively.

The Wampa Attack Scene

In January 1977 Mark Hamill broke his cheekbone and nose in a car accident. Although doctors repaired much of the damage, Hamill’s scars are visible at the start of the second Star Wars installment, Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back (1980). The film features a scene in which Luke Skywalker is savagely mauled by the yetilike Wampa. Fans have long speculated that the scene was written to account for Hamill’s injuries.

Hamill’s first major role turned out to be iconic. Released on May 25, 1977, as Star Wars (retitled to Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope in 1981), the film was a critical and commercial success, earning more than $100 million during its domestic summer run and winning six Academy Awards. It was the first entry in a franchise that includes three sets of trilogies, spinoff films and series, comic books, and video games.

Hamill reprised his role as Luke Skywalker several times over the decades following the release of Star Wars. In Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the second film in the original trilogy, Luke is trained by Jedi Master Yoda and, in one of cinema’s most famous plot twists, learns that the Sith lord Darth Vader is really his father. The final film, Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi (1983), features a memorable lightsaber duel between Luke and Darth Vader, with Vader eventually choosing to save Luke’s life. Hamill played Luke in two radio series that aired in 1981 and 1983 based on the first two Star Wars films. He did not appear in the prequel trilogy (1999–2005), which was set before Luke’s birth.

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Hamill’s next stint in the Star Wars universe was unusual: In 2014 he voiced the Sith lord Darth Bane in an episode of the animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He returned to the role of Luke Skywalker in the sequel film trilogy, comprising Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: Episode IX—The Rise of Skywalker (2019). He also played Luke in two episodes of the TV series The Mandalorian (2019–) and one episode of the series The Book of Boba Fett (2022), both set in the extended Star Wars universe. His character’s age was digitally reduced for the last two roles.

Theater and other screen roles

Although Hamill has been identified with Luke for most of his career, his efforts in diversifying his oeuvre led to a variety of roles on stage as well as on film. To circumvent typecasting he punctuated the original Star Wars trilogy with theater, appearing as John Merrick in The Elephant Man (1981) and as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus (1983), among other plays. His early film credits include the teen comedy Corvette Summer (1978) and the war drama The Big Red One (1980).

Hamill could not always avoid being pigeonholed. The lead role in the Academy Award-winning 1984 film Amadeus went to Tom Hulce because director Miloš Forman felt that Hamill’s fame as Luke Skywalker would prevent him from being a believable Mozart, even though Hamill had played the part on stage.

Hamill went on hiatus from the screen after Return of the Jedi, appearing only in a couple of TV episodes. He returned to the screen in Slipstream (1989) and continued to appear in films such as Village of the Damned (1995) and TV shows such as The Flash (1990–91) and Knightfall (2017–19). He was part of the main cast of the 2023 miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher and had pivotal roles in the 2024 fantasy film The Life of Chuck and the 2025 dystopian thriller The Long Walk.

Voice acting

Mark Hamill capitalized on his early voice work with a formidable array of voice roles. The best known of these is the Joker, whom Hamill first played in Batman: The Animated Series (1992–95) and continued in other animated series and video games. He has won multiple awards for playing the Joker, including a 2012 BAFTA for his work in the video game Batman: Arkham City.

Hamill has voiced other supervillains in the DC Comics and Marvel Comics universes, such as Hobgoblin, Klaw, Trickster, and Solomon Grundy. Other roles include Christopher Blair in the popular Wing Commander video game series, the primary antagonist Fire Lord Ozai in the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–08), the demonic doll Chucky in Child’s Play (2019), and Skeletor in Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021) and Masters of the Universe: Revolution (2024).

Hamill and his cousin Eric Johnson created a graphic novel, The Black Pearl, published by Dark Horse Comics in 1997.

Personal life

Mark Hamill married dental hygienist Marilou York in 1978. The couple has two sons—Nathan and Griffin—and a daughter, Chelsea. His three children had cameo roles as resistance fighters in The Last Jedi. The asteroid SH73, discovered in September 2001, was named 110026 Hamill in his honor.

Sanat Pai Raikar Gitanjali Roy

Mark Hamill

What is Mark Hamill most famous for?

How did Mark Hamill start his acting career?

Why is the Wampa attack scene in Star Wars famous?

Early life

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Acting career and Star Wars

Theater and other screen roles

Voice acting

Personal life