Star Wars Cast: Where Are They Now?
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VOICE OVER: Tom Aglio
WRITTEN BY: Matt Klem
Ever wonder where all of your intergalactic buddies have gone? For this list, we'll be looking at the main actors and actresses from all nine “Skywalker Saga” films, and what they've been doing since. Our list includes Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Star Wars Cast - Where Are They Now? For this list, we’ll be looking at the main actors and actresses from all nine “Skywalker Saga” films, and what they’ve been doing since. Who’s your favorite “Star Wars” character? Let us know in the comments.
The “Star Wars” Sequel Trilogy introduced fans to a new “Darth Vader”-esque character, Kylo Ren - aka Ben Solo. For some in the audience, who had missed him in “Girls” and “Inside Llewyn Davis”, it was an opportunity to see Adam Driver in action for the first time. While filming those movies, Driver also had Academy Award nominated roles in “BlacKkKlansman” and “Marriage Story”. Since the saga ended, he’s kept busy with other films, notably “The Last Duel”, “House of Gucci”, and “White Noise”. He’s the founder of Arts in the Armed Forces, which provides free arts programming to current and former service members.
After appearing in films such as “Doctor Zhivago” and “Lawrence of Arabia”, Alec Guinness’ “Star Wars” career seemed like quite a departure for the English actor. Yet millions of fans around the world adored his portrayal of Luke Skywalker’s mentor. Never a big fan of the attention the role gave him, Guinness continued to work in film and television steadily during, and after his time with “Star Wars”. His role in the 1987 film “Little Dorrit” garnered him an Academy Award nomination. Sadly, the actor passed away at the age of 86 in August of 2000, but his voice was heard again in both “The Force Awakens” and “The Rise of Skywalker”
Even the gorgeous views of Cloud City had nothing on the charm of its administrator, Lando Calrissian. He was the old friend-turned-traitor-turned-ally-again of Han Solo during the latter two films of the original Star Wars trilogy. After Star Wars, Billy Dee Williams portrayed Harvey Dent in “Batman”, and had several notable television roles on shows like “Dynasty” and “General Hospital”. He’s also dedicated much of his time to a successful painting career. Williams has reprised his role of Lando in several voice acting roles, and in the flesh for “The Rise of Skywalker”.
After dying of a broken heart in “Revenge of the Sith”, Portman went on to some of her biggest roles to date. She received an Oscar nod and Golden Globe for her work in 2004’s “Closer”, and went on the following year to give a memorable turn in “V for Vendetta”. She took home an Oscar for “Black Swan”, and received another Academy Award nomination for “Jackie”. Plus, she found her way into the God of Thunder’s heart in the MCU. Jane Foster may be in Valhalla, but Portman is right here among us keeping busy as ever.
Much like his predecessor, Hayden Christensen originally took a lot of flak from many “Star Wars” fans for his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker in the latter two prequel films. Many opinions have since changed, especially since he took up the character again in 2022’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series. In the meantime, Christensen has kept fairly busy starring in other films like “Jumper” and “Vanishing on 7th Street”. He also teamed up with his brother Tove and the company Enjoy Movies in 2013 to form Glacier Films, which released “American Heist” in 2014.
While Isaac’s breakthrough role came with 2013’s “Inside Llewyn Davis”, it was his turn as the hotspot pilot Poe Dameron in the Sequel Trilogy that made him a household name. After those films, he considered taking a break from acting, but couldn’t turn down the part of Duke Leto Atreides in Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune”. He also joined the MCU as the lead in the Egyptian themed “Moon Knight” series, which he was also an executive producer on. Not one to be pigeon-holed, Isaac has also branched out into other genres. He played a gambler in “The Card Counter”, and is set to star in the thriller “London”, directed by Ben Stiller.
By the time that “The Phantom Menace” came out in 1999, Star Wars fans had waited 16 years for a new movie. Needless to say, expectations were high. Child actor Jake Lloyd, who played young Anakin, was nine years old at the time of release. Fans were vocal about their displeasure, and Lloyd retired from acting just two years later, after the press and kids at school made his life “a living hell”. Unfortunately, his struggles didn’t end there. In 2015, he had two separate run-ins with the police, including a high-speed chase that landed him in jail for 10 months. He’s since been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and lives close to his family.
Liam Neeson’s appearance in the Star Wars Prequel trilogy was a drop in the bucket of his long filmography. With over 30 films prior, and over 70 since, Liam Neeson is an actor who likes to keep busy. Whether he’s taking care of his stepson in “Love Actually”, leading the League of Shadows in “Batman Begins”, showing off a very particular set of skills in “Taken”, or just buying a box of cereal in “Ted 2”, Neeson’s range clearly runs the gamut! He’s also had several subsequent voice roles and cameos as Qui-Gon Jinn, most notably in “Obi-Wan Kenobi”. As of writing, he had a slew of films in production, and based on his history, we’re sure we’ll see plenty more!
It’s not easy to take over a character played by an acting legend like Sir Alec Guinness. But Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has become beloved as the younger Obi-Wan, even reprising the role in 2022. Of course, it’s not just the legendary Jedi that he’s been playing all this time. During filming for the Prequels, he also managed to star in “Moulin Rouge”, “Black Hawk Down”, and “Big Fish”. Since then, just a few of his notable movies include “Angels & Demons”, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”, “Christopher Robin”, “Doctor Sleep”, and “Birds of Prey”. He’s also pursued another major passion - motorcycling - documenting trips across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Despite his relatively small screen time in “Return of the Jedi”, Ian McDiarmid made Darth Sidious an instantly iconic villain. He rounded out the character in the Prequel Trilogy, and returned for “The Rise of Skywalker”. He’s also voiced the role for animation and video games. While it remains the best known role in his filmography, his main passion is the theater - particularly Shakespearean plays. With an extensive list of credits as both actor and director, he’s been keeping busy on the stage, and has won numerous awards doing so.
Originally, Frank Oz wanted to be a journalist, but his life took an unexpected turn after he met Jim Henson and became a puppeteer instead. As such, he’s brought numerous beloved Muppet characters to life, both before and after puppeteering and voicing Yoda in Star Wars. He’s also an accomplished filmmaker himself, with his directing credits including the likes of “The Dark Crystal”, “The Muppets Take Manhattan”, and “Little Shop of Horrors”. He has now semi-retired from Muppet work, to dedicate more time to directing.
Did you know that the original R2-D2 actually had an actor hiding inside? Kenny Baker was an English actor who started out as a circus performer and even had a comedy act known as the Minitones. Baker was brought on to the original “Star Wars” film and remained with the franchise for six films. Between his performances in the Original and Prequel trilogy, he was in several other films, including “The Elephant Man”, “Willow”, “Amadeus”, and “Labyrinth”. Sadly, his later years were plagued by health difficulties. After serving as a consultant on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, Baker passed away in 2016.
While Anthony Daniels has appeared on several TV shows, such as on “Prime Suspect”, most of his filmography is Star Wars related. The English born actor has appeared as the droid C-3PO in over 50 films, TV shows, video games, theme park rides, and documentaries. Along with continuing to keep up his “Star Wars” appearances, he also serves as an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center. You’ll also find him enjoying his time gardening and relaxing in his home in southeastern France.
Like Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew enjoyed a wonderful career with Star Wars as a touchstone. Known for his portrayal of the ever popular character Chewbacca, Mayhew remained with the franchise up until “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. Due to ongoing health issues, he passed the reins of his furry character to Joonas Suotamo while still serving as a consultant for the films. When not acting, Mayhew found time to write two children's books that discussed how his physical stature had affected him in his youth, and how he learned to draw strength from it. After several major surgeries, Mayhew died of a heart attack in 2019.
It all began with Luke, Leia, and Han. In the sequel trilogy it was Rey, Poe, and Finn. John Boyega played the Stormtrooper turned rebel in the Sequel Trilogy. With only four films under his belt, it became a breakout role for him, showcasing his talent to a wider audience. While filming Star Wars, he also starred in “Pacific Rim: Uprising”. More recent credits include 2022’s “The Woman King” and “Breaking”. Boyega has also been vocal in the press about this support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
The writing behind the Sequel Trilogy received criticism from critics and fans alike. But one thing most agree on is Daisy Ridley’s performance. Like other leads in “Star Wars”, she was a relatively unknown actress at the time, propelled into stardom. While the trilogy was ongoing, she also had roles in “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Ophelia”. She’s since starred opposite Tom Holland in 2021’s “Chaos Walking” - a film that did not do either actor justice. Hopefully, her upcoming appearances in “The Marsh King's Daughter” and “Young Woman and the Sea” involved material more worthy of her talent.
While David Prowse was in the costume, James Earl Jones was the voice. After the Original Trilogy, Jones had roles in successful films like “Field of Dreams”, “The Hunt for Red October”, and of course as Mufasa in “The Lion King”. He’s also made several television appearances, such as on “The Big Bang Theory”. Notable reprisals of his role as Vader include in “Star Wars Rebels” and “Rogue One”. In 2021, fans saw him reprising his role as King Jaffe Joffer in the “Coming to America” sequel with Eddie Murphy. While he retired from voicing Vader in 2022, he’s given permission for his voice to be recreated using artificial intelligence. Even the real voice now may be replaced by a machine.
She was far from the helpless damsel in distress audiences had seen countless times before. When Carrie Fisher took on the role of Leia, she brought to life a bonafide badass. It was Fisher’s breakout role, but with her razor sharp wit, she went on to star in numerous films and TV shows, showcasing her impressive comedy chops. She also branched out into writing, publishing eight books, along with several screenplays and stage plays. Fisher became known as a top script doctor, working on the screenplays for movies such as “Hook”, “Sister Act”, and “The Wedding Singer”. After reprising her role as Leia for the Sequel Trilogy, Fisher sadly passed away from cardiac arrest in December of 2016.
Having appeared as Luke in the Original and Sequel Trilogies, Hamill is synonymous with the sci-fi franchise. But his work has gone far beyond that of Yoda’s apprentice. Hamill has a long list of voice acting credits in animated works, especially from DC Comics. His best known voice role is arguably as Batman’s archnemesis Joker, with other notable roles including Hobgoblin in “Spider-Man” and Lord Ozai in “Avatar: The Last Airbender”. He also helped bring young Luke back to the screen in the shows “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett”, with the help of some impressive movie magic.
He’s been Han Solo, Indiana Jones, replicant hunter Rick Deckard, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and the President of the United States! It’s not really about where he is now, but more like, where hasn’t he been. With a jumpstart from George Lucas, Ford’s career took off like a rocket, which he’s kept going with his considerable talent ever since. Although his presence as an action hero has lessened over the years, it hasn’t stopped him from finding new roles and entertaining audiences. When he’s not on the screen, he flies airplanes as a hobby, advocates for the environment, and even supports real-life archaeologists in their work. With a career spanning six decades, he’s a cultural icon with an incredible body of work.
#20: Adam Driver
Kylo RenThe “Star Wars” Sequel Trilogy introduced fans to a new “Darth Vader”-esque character, Kylo Ren - aka Ben Solo. For some in the audience, who had missed him in “Girls” and “Inside Llewyn Davis”, it was an opportunity to see Adam Driver in action for the first time. While filming those movies, Driver also had Academy Award nominated roles in “BlacKkKlansman” and “Marriage Story”. Since the saga ended, he’s kept busy with other films, notably “The Last Duel”, “House of Gucci”, and “White Noise”. He’s the founder of Arts in the Armed Forces, which provides free arts programming to current and former service members.
#19: Sir Alec Guinness
Obi-Wan KenobiAfter appearing in films such as “Doctor Zhivago” and “Lawrence of Arabia”, Alec Guinness’ “Star Wars” career seemed like quite a departure for the English actor. Yet millions of fans around the world adored his portrayal of Luke Skywalker’s mentor. Never a big fan of the attention the role gave him, Guinness continued to work in film and television steadily during, and after his time with “Star Wars”. His role in the 1987 film “Little Dorrit” garnered him an Academy Award nomination. Sadly, the actor passed away at the age of 86 in August of 2000, but his voice was heard again in both “The Force Awakens” and “The Rise of Skywalker”
#18: Billy Dee Williams
Lando CalrissianEven the gorgeous views of Cloud City had nothing on the charm of its administrator, Lando Calrissian. He was the old friend-turned-traitor-turned-ally-again of Han Solo during the latter two films of the original Star Wars trilogy. After Star Wars, Billy Dee Williams portrayed Harvey Dent in “Batman”, and had several notable television roles on shows like “Dynasty” and “General Hospital”. He’s also dedicated much of his time to a successful painting career. Williams has reprised his role of Lando in several voice acting roles, and in the flesh for “The Rise of Skywalker”.
#17: Natalie Portman
Padme AmidalaAfter dying of a broken heart in “Revenge of the Sith”, Portman went on to some of her biggest roles to date. She received an Oscar nod and Golden Globe for her work in 2004’s “Closer”, and went on the following year to give a memorable turn in “V for Vendetta”. She took home an Oscar for “Black Swan”, and received another Academy Award nomination for “Jackie”. Plus, she found her way into the God of Thunder’s heart in the MCU. Jane Foster may be in Valhalla, but Portman is right here among us keeping busy as ever.
#16: Hayden Christensen
Anakin SkywalkerMuch like his predecessor, Hayden Christensen originally took a lot of flak from many “Star Wars” fans for his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker in the latter two prequel films. Many opinions have since changed, especially since he took up the character again in 2022’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series. In the meantime, Christensen has kept fairly busy starring in other films like “Jumper” and “Vanishing on 7th Street”. He also teamed up with his brother Tove and the company Enjoy Movies in 2013 to form Glacier Films, which released “American Heist” in 2014.
#15: Oscar Isaac
Poe DameronWhile Isaac’s breakthrough role came with 2013’s “Inside Llewyn Davis”, it was his turn as the hotspot pilot Poe Dameron in the Sequel Trilogy that made him a household name. After those films, he considered taking a break from acting, but couldn’t turn down the part of Duke Leto Atreides in Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune”. He also joined the MCU as the lead in the Egyptian themed “Moon Knight” series, which he was also an executive producer on. Not one to be pigeon-holed, Isaac has also branched out into other genres. He played a gambler in “The Card Counter”, and is set to star in the thriller “London”, directed by Ben Stiller.
#14: Jake Lloyd
Anakin SkywalkerBy the time that “The Phantom Menace” came out in 1999, Star Wars fans had waited 16 years for a new movie. Needless to say, expectations were high. Child actor Jake Lloyd, who played young Anakin, was nine years old at the time of release. Fans were vocal about their displeasure, and Lloyd retired from acting just two years later, after the press and kids at school made his life “a living hell”. Unfortunately, his struggles didn’t end there. In 2015, he had two separate run-ins with the police, including a high-speed chase that landed him in jail for 10 months. He’s since been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and lives close to his family.
#13: Liam Neeson
Qui-Gon JinnLiam Neeson’s appearance in the Star Wars Prequel trilogy was a drop in the bucket of his long filmography. With over 30 films prior, and over 70 since, Liam Neeson is an actor who likes to keep busy. Whether he’s taking care of his stepson in “Love Actually”, leading the League of Shadows in “Batman Begins”, showing off a very particular set of skills in “Taken”, or just buying a box of cereal in “Ted 2”, Neeson’s range clearly runs the gamut! He’s also had several subsequent voice roles and cameos as Qui-Gon Jinn, most notably in “Obi-Wan Kenobi”. As of writing, he had a slew of films in production, and based on his history, we’re sure we’ll see plenty more!
#12: Ewan McGregor
Obi-Wan KenobiIt’s not easy to take over a character played by an acting legend like Sir Alec Guinness. But Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has become beloved as the younger Obi-Wan, even reprising the role in 2022. Of course, it’s not just the legendary Jedi that he’s been playing all this time. During filming for the Prequels, he also managed to star in “Moulin Rouge”, “Black Hawk Down”, and “Big Fish”. Since then, just a few of his notable movies include “Angels & Demons”, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”, “Christopher Robin”, “Doctor Sleep”, and “Birds of Prey”. He’s also pursued another major passion - motorcycling - documenting trips across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
#11: Ian McDiarmid
Darth SidiousDespite his relatively small screen time in “Return of the Jedi”, Ian McDiarmid made Darth Sidious an instantly iconic villain. He rounded out the character in the Prequel Trilogy, and returned for “The Rise of Skywalker”. He’s also voiced the role for animation and video games. While it remains the best known role in his filmography, his main passion is the theater - particularly Shakespearean plays. With an extensive list of credits as both actor and director, he’s been keeping busy on the stage, and has won numerous awards doing so.
#10: Frank Oz
YodaOriginally, Frank Oz wanted to be a journalist, but his life took an unexpected turn after he met Jim Henson and became a puppeteer instead. As such, he’s brought numerous beloved Muppet characters to life, both before and after puppeteering and voicing Yoda in Star Wars. He’s also an accomplished filmmaker himself, with his directing credits including the likes of “The Dark Crystal”, “The Muppets Take Manhattan”, and “Little Shop of Horrors”. He has now semi-retired from Muppet work, to dedicate more time to directing.
#9: Kenny Baker
R2D2Did you know that the original R2-D2 actually had an actor hiding inside? Kenny Baker was an English actor who started out as a circus performer and even had a comedy act known as the Minitones. Baker was brought on to the original “Star Wars” film and remained with the franchise for six films. Between his performances in the Original and Prequel trilogy, he was in several other films, including “The Elephant Man”, “Willow”, “Amadeus”, and “Labyrinth”. Sadly, his later years were plagued by health difficulties. After serving as a consultant on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, Baker passed away in 2016.
#8: Anthony Daniels
C3P0While Anthony Daniels has appeared on several TV shows, such as on “Prime Suspect”, most of his filmography is Star Wars related. The English born actor has appeared as the droid C-3PO in over 50 films, TV shows, video games, theme park rides, and documentaries. Along with continuing to keep up his “Star Wars” appearances, he also serves as an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center. You’ll also find him enjoying his time gardening and relaxing in his home in southeastern France.
#7: Peter Mayhew
ChewbaccaLike Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew enjoyed a wonderful career with Star Wars as a touchstone. Known for his portrayal of the ever popular character Chewbacca, Mayhew remained with the franchise up until “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. Due to ongoing health issues, he passed the reins of his furry character to Joonas Suotamo while still serving as a consultant for the films. When not acting, Mayhew found time to write two children's books that discussed how his physical stature had affected him in his youth, and how he learned to draw strength from it. After several major surgeries, Mayhew died of a heart attack in 2019.
#6: John Boyega
FinnIt all began with Luke, Leia, and Han. In the sequel trilogy it was Rey, Poe, and Finn. John Boyega played the Stormtrooper turned rebel in the Sequel Trilogy. With only four films under his belt, it became a breakout role for him, showcasing his talent to a wider audience. While filming Star Wars, he also starred in “Pacific Rim: Uprising”. More recent credits include 2022’s “The Woman King” and “Breaking”. Boyega has also been vocal in the press about this support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
#5: Daisy Ridley
ReyThe writing behind the Sequel Trilogy received criticism from critics and fans alike. But one thing most agree on is Daisy Ridley’s performance. Like other leads in “Star Wars”, she was a relatively unknown actress at the time, propelled into stardom. While the trilogy was ongoing, she also had roles in “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Ophelia”. She’s since starred opposite Tom Holland in 2021’s “Chaos Walking” - a film that did not do either actor justice. Hopefully, her upcoming appearances in “The Marsh King's Daughter” and “Young Woman and the Sea” involved material more worthy of her talent.
#4: James Earl Jones
Darth VaderWhile David Prowse was in the costume, James Earl Jones was the voice. After the Original Trilogy, Jones had roles in successful films like “Field of Dreams”, “The Hunt for Red October”, and of course as Mufasa in “The Lion King”. He’s also made several television appearances, such as on “The Big Bang Theory”. Notable reprisals of his role as Vader include in “Star Wars Rebels” and “Rogue One”. In 2021, fans saw him reprising his role as King Jaffe Joffer in the “Coming to America” sequel with Eddie Murphy. While he retired from voicing Vader in 2022, he’s given permission for his voice to be recreated using artificial intelligence. Even the real voice now may be replaced by a machine.
#3: Carrie Fisher
Princess LeiaShe was far from the helpless damsel in distress audiences had seen countless times before. When Carrie Fisher took on the role of Leia, she brought to life a bonafide badass. It was Fisher’s breakout role, but with her razor sharp wit, she went on to star in numerous films and TV shows, showcasing her impressive comedy chops. She also branched out into writing, publishing eight books, along with several screenplays and stage plays. Fisher became known as a top script doctor, working on the screenplays for movies such as “Hook”, “Sister Act”, and “The Wedding Singer”. After reprising her role as Leia for the Sequel Trilogy, Fisher sadly passed away from cardiac arrest in December of 2016.
#2: Mark Hamill
Luke SkywalkerHaving appeared as Luke in the Original and Sequel Trilogies, Hamill is synonymous with the sci-fi franchise. But his work has gone far beyond that of Yoda’s apprentice. Hamill has a long list of voice acting credits in animated works, especially from DC Comics. His best known voice role is arguably as Batman’s archnemesis Joker, with other notable roles including Hobgoblin in “Spider-Man” and Lord Ozai in “Avatar: The Last Airbender”. He also helped bring young Luke back to the screen in the shows “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett”, with the help of some impressive movie magic.
#1: Harrison Ford
Han SoloHe’s been Han Solo, Indiana Jones, replicant hunter Rick Deckard, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and the President of the United States! It’s not really about where he is now, but more like, where hasn’t he been. With a jumpstart from George Lucas, Ford’s career took off like a rocket, which he’s kept going with his considerable talent ever since. Although his presence as an action hero has lessened over the years, it hasn’t stopped him from finding new roles and entertaining audiences. When he’s not on the screen, he flies airplanes as a hobby, advocates for the environment, and even supports real-life archaeologists in their work. With a career spanning six decades, he’s a cultural icon with an incredible body of work.
