All 12 Actors Who’ve Played Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars

by

Star Wars, set in a distant cosmic realm, still exerts a powerful influence over our own galaxy. Its movies remain its primary allure, and although it’s been some time since a new one hit theaters, The Mandalorian and Grogu, as well as Star Wars: Starfighter, are poised to create a sensation. Television series like these might even challenge the popularity of their big-screen counterparts, particularly Star Wars: Ahsoka, which will delve further into the story of Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. In the second season of the Disney+ show, The Chosen One will continue to guide Ahsoka in her training across galaxies.

In the Star Wars series, Anakin’s revival is fantastic as Hayden Christensen didn’t have the most compelling content to portray during the prequel trilogy. Yet, it’s important to note that Christensen isn’t the sole actor who has breathed life into this character. In total, there are 12 different actors who have embodied Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise.

1) David Prowse

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’d like to share an interesting behind-the-scenes fact about Darth Vader from “Star Wars: A New Hope.” To ensure that Vader would be as menacing and imposing as possible, George Lucas and the team enlisted strongman David Prowse to wear the suit. However, things took an unexpected turn when the legendary voice actor of cinema agreed to lend his talents to the production, ultimately giving us the chilling, unforgettable lines we’ve come to associate with Darth Vader today.

2) James Earl Jones

Following his debut in theater, James Earl Jones went on to voice Darth Vader in the initial Star Wars trilogy. For many years afterward, he contributed significantly to the franchise until his sad demise in 2024. Despite this, his family has consented to let his work be continued using artificial intelligence.

3) Bob Anderson

In the film Star Wars: A New Hope, Darth Vader’s battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi fell short of expectations. However, for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the creative team significantly improved the quality of the fights, particularly the iconic lightsaber duels between Darth Vader (portrayed by professional fencer Bob Anderson) and Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill).

4) Sebastian Shaw

In simpler terms, after defeating Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader found himself in a challenging position. Given that he was close to death, he made a last plea – to see his son one more time with his own eyes. Although English actor Sebastian Shaw had minimal screen time, his performance as the masked individual was truly remarkable.

5) Jake Lloyd

After Vader’s demise, Lucas chose to delve into Anakin Skywalker’s past in the prequel trilogy, a series of films that unfolded before his transformation into Darth Vader. In the initial prequel, titled “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace“, Jake Lloyd played the prophesied character, the Chosen One. Despite facing severe criticism following the movie’s premiere, time seems to have softened the perception of Lloyd’s performance.

6) Hayden Christensen

As a devoted Star Wars fan, I must admit that the significant time leap in “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones” led to a change in the actor portraying Anakin. Although Hayden Christensen did his utmost in the prequels, his subsequent roles in “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Ahsoka” have given him an opportunity to truly showcase his acting abilities.

7) Mat Lucas

To expand the narrative of the prequels, Lucas sought assistance from renowned animator Genndy Tartakovsky. Together they developed “Star Wars: Clone Wars“, a series that depicted the intense galactic struggle occurring between the timeline of “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith“. Notably, Lucas had the chance to provide the voice for Anakin in the show as well as various video games.

8) Frankie Ryan Manriquez

The Clone Wars series didn’t solely revolve around the present-day Anakin character, instead using flashbacks to offer opportunities for another actor. Frankie Ryan Manriquez, recognized for his roles in sitcoms like King of Queens and That’s So Raven, lent his voice to the younger version of Anakin in the animated show.

9) Kirby Morrow

Star Wars enjoys working together effectively, and one of its major allies is the toy manufacturer LEGO. Anakin Skytwalker was a frequent character in LEGO Star Wars productions like “LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Saga” and “LEGO Star Wars: Droid Chronicles”. Throughout this collaboration, veteran voice actor Kirby Morrow played an integral role, contributing significantly to the portrayal of the Jedi.

10) Matt Lanter

Following the removal of “Star Wars: Clone Wars” from canon, Lucasfilm revisited the storyline with “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”. Although it explored similar territories, a fresh cast was assembled for this endeavor. Notable among them is Matt Lanter, who assumed the role of Anakin in the project. Lanter’s voice talent has been utilized in various subsequent projects, such as “Star Wars Rebels”.

11) Spencer Wilding

Although Darth Vader seemingly perished in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, he made a reappearance on the silver screen in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, set prior to the events of A New Hope. In the film, Vader primarily served as an obstacle for Director Krennic rather than taking center stage. The man inside the suit during most of the movie was Welsh stuntman Spencer Wilding.

12) Daniel Naprous

At the finale of “Rogue One,” when Darth Vader was unleashed to retrieve the Death Star plans, the filmmakers realized they needed a more agile actor than Wilding for the role. Enter stunt performer Daniel Naprous, who took on the part of Darth Vader, skillfully portraying him as he sliced through Rebel soldiers with his lightsaber.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/star-wars-characters-who-could-lead-franchise/embed/#

Read More

2025-08-08 18:59