When fans hear the name Mark Hamill, the image of Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker automatically comes into mind. The veteran actor first portrayed the character in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope. The franchise expanded into multiple installments and spin-offs, and even today, he continues to reprise his iconic role.
Hamill made much of his fortune from appearing in Star Wars films. Although he ventured into other projects and movie roles, nothing came close to his portrayal of the famed Jedi from a galaxy far, far away.
Mark Hamill Was Paid Higher Than The Lead Cast Of The Force Awakens
In the years that followed, Mark Hamill became the face of the franchise. He reprised his role in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, securing fame and catapulting his career to new heights.
In 2015, he returned in a much-awaited appearance in The Force Awakens, starring Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo, also made his comeback. Although fans were very eager to witness Hamill’s return, he did not appear until the last few minutes of the movie. He also did not utter one word.
His presence in The Force Awakens served as a set-up for his role in the next installment, which made quite an impression. In his less than five-minute screen time, he was paid a whopping $3 million, according to Men’s Health. Fans could discern that it was indeed a cameo scene, and yet, the actor received a higher salary than Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, who took home $300,000 each.
Hamill admitted that despite his brief scene in the movie, he prepared for the role wholeheartedly. In fact, he had cameo voice lines in the film. In response to a Twitter post, Hamill justified his appearance in The Force Awakens:
“It wasn’t the waste of time you think. JJ had me read the entire script aloud, except for the character’s dialogue. I actually did more work for Abrams on that one day than in Episodes 7 & 9 combined.”
Aside from attending rehearsals, the actor also revealed that he worked on his physical body to get in shape for the role.
How Much Is Mark Hamill’s Net Worth?
Mark Hamill returned in 2017’s The Last Jedi where he had a more prominent role. His exact salary for the film and its sequel, 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, remains unknown. Based on his previous paycheck, fans can assume he received higher wage ranging from $5 million to $10 million.
In between Star Wars projects, Hamill also worked on several animated films, TV shows, and video games as a voice actor. His recorded net worth is reportedly around $18 million. The figure may pale in comparison with other co-stars like Harrison Ford, but the actor seems quite satisfied with his works and the success of the franchise that shaped his career.
Hamill also appeared in the Star Wars spin-offs The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. His presence in the television series was a joy to long-time fans of the franchise.
All Star Wars films are available on Disney+.
Sources: Men’s Health, Twitter
