Mark Hamill, famous for playing Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars trilogy, is now a sought-after voice actor in animated productions and video games. Despite not being an “it” star when cast in Star Wars, he had previous acting experience and was recognizable after the film’s release. Hamill also had success on Broadway and in films, but his main love is voice work. He has written a comic book series and is a supporter of the comic book industry, making appearances at conventions.
Mark Hamill would probably be more universally recognized for playing the role of Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars trilogy. Although he is not seen as frequently on camera today, he is still heard by legions of science fiction and cartoon fans. He has become a sought-after actor for voice roles in a number of animated productions. You may also recognize his voice in video games, where he has starred in several Lucasfilm games.
Although George Lucas wanted to play almost complete strangers for the lead parts in Star Wars: Episode IV, Mark Hamill was not without acting experience. After graduating from Los Angeles City College with a degree in drama, he quickly transitioned into acting, even doing some voice work before Star Wars, for the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Jeannie. He also starred in the pilot of the popular show Eight is Enough playing David, the older brother. He had a recurring part on the soap opera General Hospital and was in his first television movie The City.
Despite such credits, Mark Hamill was not an “it” star when Lucas cast him. Yet it can be said that his star was certainly on the rise. Within days of Star Wars’ first release, he was probably one of the most easily identifiable actors. In 1977, however, just before the release of Star Wars, Hamill was in a serious car accident, resulting in severe facial injuries. He required plastic surgery, which only partially restored his appearance to him. You can see it quite clearly in The Empire Strikes Back where there is a clear difference in his face from the previous film.
After finishing the Star Wars trilogy, Mark Hamill spent time on Broadway, receiving rave reviews for his role in The Elephant Man. He also had several starring roles in films during the making of the trilogy. These include the movies, Corvette Summer, The Big Red One and The Night the Lights Wet Out in Georgia.
Much of Hamill’s work beyond these films has been as a voice actor, with roles in several films by Hayao Miyazaki, Nausica and Castle in the Sky. He had the occasional screen appearance. In Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back, he pokes fun at his Luke Skywalker character. He is known for starring in independent productions such as Walking Across Egypt. His main love, however, seems to be the voice work that he adores so much.
In addition to acting, Mark Hamill has written a comic book series called The Black Pearl which was released in 1996. He has continued to work in voice acting, with an impressive amount of credits to his name in television, film and video game productions. Hamill is also an ardent supporter of the comic book industry and makes many appearances at comic book conventions.
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