Over the years, the Star Wars franchise has seen many famous actors play many iconic characters. While many faces have stayed consistent, some characters have been played by many different actors at different points in their lives. From Hans Solo to Lando Calrissian, no character seems to be exempt.
However, there was one character that was originally played by a completely different actor. While the actor passed away many years ago, had he still been alive, he would have been celebrating his 119th birthday today. On this occasion, let’s take a look back at how he contributed to the franchise.
Star Wars Actor Would Have Turned 119
Sebastian Shaw was an iconic part of Hollywood in the 20th century. He starred in various well-known projects like The Spy in Black, It Happened Here, High Season, and Men Are Not Gods. His versatility was not limited to acting, as he was also a director, playwright, novelist, and even a poet.
The actor was born in May 1906 and passed away in December 1994, at the age of 89. If he was still alive, he would have been 119 years old. While there is no denying that his loss was felt all across the industry, many may not even know that he was a part of one of the most successful franchises of all time.
The True Anakin Skywalker
Anakin Skywalker is certainly one of the more complicated characters in the world of Star Wars. Having been portrayed by Hayden Christensen, better known as Darth Vader, his story possesses layers and layers of complexity, which has made him a truly exceptional character. While a majority of the fandom knows the character through Christensen’s face, there was another who played him decades ago.
In the 1983 movie, Return of the Jedi, there was a point where Darth Vader was unmasked, and his cursed appearance was finally shown to the world. This version of the character was played by Sebastian Shaw.
While many viewers may not have known this piece of information, there is no denying that his unmasking was one of the most iconic moments in the franchise.
