All 14 Actors Who’ve Played Darth Vader In Star Wars

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Darth Vader is one of the most famous villains in cinematic history, and a truly iconic figure from the Star Wars saga. Since his debut in 1977, he’s become a cultural phenomenon, widely considered the greatest sci-fi villain ever. Even people unfamiliar with Star Wars recognize him, and his popularity continues to endure across generations and in various forms of media.

Given how long the character has existed, it’s no surprise many actors have played him. Several performers have contributed their talents – through their bodies, voices, and appearances – to bring the character to life as a true team effort. While some actors are more famous for the role than others, they’ve all helped create one of the greatest sci-fi characters ever.

14) Gene Bryant

Most Star Wars fans don’t know Gene Bryant, but he actually played Darth Vader – as a body double! While his time portraying the character in Revenge of the Sith was brief and he wasn’t officially credited, some of his scenes ended up in the final movie, making him one of the few actors to have played Darth Vader.

13) C. Andrew Nelson

You know, as a huge Star Wars fan, I always love learning about the people behind the iconic characters. C. Andrew Nelson is one of those guys. He actually was Darth Vader, physically! He wasn’t just a voice actor or someone in the suit for a few scenes – he was the body model for the character in a couple of video games back in ’95. Plus, he did a ton of commercials and print ads as Vader. And get this – he even appeared as the villain in the special editions of the original trilogy, though you probably wouldn’t have seen his name in the credits! It’s amazing how many people contributed to bringing that character to life.

12) Scott Lawrence

Scott Lawrence has been the primary voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars video games since the mid-1990s. He was even considered a stand-in for James Earl Jones at one point. Recently, he voiced the iconic character in the popular games Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor.

11) Matt Sloan

Matt Sloan has become well-known for his voice work as Darth Vader, particularly in video games. He voiced the iconic character in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and its continuation, and has also played Vader in several LEGO Star Wars animated specials.

10) Bob Anderson

Bob Anderson played a key role in creating the iconic Darth Vader in the original Star Wars films. He wasn’t just a stunt double, but actually performed scenes as Vader, appearing on screen in the suit. A highly skilled sword fighter, Anderson’s expertise was essential for choreographing and performing the famous lightsaber battles.

9) Daniel Naprous

Daniel Naprous is a stuntman known for his work in Hollywood, including a role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He’s worked on many popular franchises, and notably, he actually played Darth Vader – performing the character’s physical movements in Rogue One and wearing the famous mask.

8) Spencer Wilding

Spencer Wilding was one of the actors who physically portrayed Darth Vader. He also appeared in Rogue One, and his height and build made him well-suited to the role. Beyond Star Wars, Wilding has worked on popular shows like Doctor Who and in the Harry Potter films.

7) Dmitrious Bistrevsky

The series Obi-Wan Kenobi featured Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Darth Vader, but it also used other actors to portray the character. Dmitrious Bistrevsky, an actor of Ukrainian-American descent, performed many of the full-body shots as Vader. Although viewers may not have known his name, his physical presence was crucial in bringing the iconic character to life in the show.

6) Tom O’Connell

Tom O’Connell, along with Hayden Christensen and Dmitrious Bistrevsky, portrayed Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi. As a Hollywood stuntman, O’Connell primarily performed the physical aspects of the role while wearing the famous mask. He also appeared on screen as a spice guard and previously worked as a stunt double on The Mandalorian.

5) Sebastian Shaw

Though Sebastian Shaw only appeared briefly as Darth Vader, his portrayal is unforgettable. He was the actor seen under the mask at the end of Return of the Jedi, and also played Vader’s Force ghost. While his face was later digitally changed to look more like Hayden Christensen, Shaw remains the original face many associate with the character.

4) Matt Lanter

Matt Lanter is best known to fans of the Star Wars franchise as the voice of the main character in The Clone Wars. While he voiced Anakin Skywalker for many years, he only briefly played Darth Vader. In Star Wars Rebels, his voice was combined with that of James Earl Jones, but he was ultimately able to voice Anakin’s dark side persona, Darth Vader.

3) Hayden Christensen

Although it’s widely known Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader, the characters are usually seen as distinct. The movie Revenge of the Sith showed Anakin’s transformation into the villain, with actor Hayden Christensen portraying this change. He later returned to play Darth Vader in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

2) David Prowse

David Prowse, the actor who physically portrayed Darth Vader, is best known for bringing the iconic villain to life in the original Star Wars films. His powerful presence and imposing stature were crucial in making Darth Vader such a memorable and frightening character, especially for fans who grew up with the first three movies. Prowse’s contribution is a vital part of Darth Vader’s legacy.

1) James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones was a prolific voice actor in film, but he’s best known for voicing Darth Vader. His powerful, resonant voice gave the character a sense of authority and truly brought Darth Vader—a character physically portrayed by David Prowse—to life. This collaboration between two actors created a legendary character, and Jones’ voice work is considered one of the greatest voice acting performances ever.

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2025-11-20 21:19