Anakin Skywalker

"He's more machine now than man... twisted and evil."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

Anakin Skywalker, better known by his Sith name Darth Vader is one of the most infamous and influential pop culture villains of all time. As Vader, he is the central antagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy and as Anakin is the main protagonist from the prequel trilogy. Introduced in the 1977 film Star Wars, Darth Vader was played by British weight trainer David Prowse with American actor James Earl Jones providing the booming voice of the character. Prowse and Jones returned to the character in the 1980 sequel Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. In the sixth chapter of the Star Wars story, Sebastian Shaw played the redeemed Anakin Skywalker at the climax of the film. In the prequel trilogy, Anakin Skywalker was played by nine-year-old Jake Lloyd in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. In the second part of the trilogy, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, which takes place ten years later, Anakin was played by Hayden Christensen. Christensen reprised the role for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith where the character evolved into the Darth Vader role for the first time. For the 2004 DVD release of Return of the Jedi, Christensen was edited in to replace Sebastian Shaw as the Force ghost of Anakin Skywalker. Professional swordsman Bob Anderson filled in for Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi during Vader's lightsaber duals. In the Star Wars: Clone Wars film and television series, Anakin Skywalker is voiced by actor Matt Lanter. Another individual to fill the boots of Vader is C. Andrew Nelson. Nelson is an actor, visual effects artist and animator associated with LucasArts. He assumed the role of Vader for several of LucasArts' video game projects including Star Wars: Dark Forces and Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire games, the Special Edition of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, commercials, print ads, TV shows, and magazine covers. Brock Peters provided the voice for Darth Vader in the 1981 Star Wars radio drama as well as the 1983 The Empire Strikes Back radio drama and the 1996 Return of the Jedi radio drama.

Notes & Trivia

 * Darth Vader was placed third in the American Film Institute's list of Greatest Movie Villains following Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates.


 * The name Darth Vader serves as a word play meaning "Dark Father". Vader is the Dutch word for father.


 * Due to the extensive injuries that he suffered on Mustafar, Darth Vader was incapable of reaching his full potential as a Force user. One notable side effect of this was his inability to project Force Lightning, an effect which required the use of actual hands. According to George Lucas, had Vader not been injured, he would have eventually become twice as powerful as the Emperor.


 * The facial scar that Anakin has during most of Episode III is absent when he reveals his face at the end of Episode VI. No explanation is ever provided for this incongruity.


 * James Earl Jones was not credited for providing Darth Vader's voice in the theatrical release of Episode III.