Star Wars has audiences divided these days, to say the least, and this paradigm extends to the legendary Mark Hamill’s own family.
Hamill is one of the iconic golden trio of the original Star Wars trilogy, alongside Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, all three of whom reprised their roles in the Disney-backed sequel trilogy. Hamill last played Luke Skywalker in the capacity of a voice actor for Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. Now, in a recent interview, he reveals how his kids feel about the franchise overall.
For one of them, Star Wars is such a formative experience that he likely can’t help but love the movies: Hamill’s oldest son, Nathan, was born during the production of The Empire Strikes Back and came to the set of Return of the Jedi as a toddler. “He was totally into it,” Hamill told USA Today. “He could sit in Yoda’s house because he was little. He was perfectly proportioned. He sat on the Emperor’s throne.”
“He was in the creature shop, and they were letting him play with things,” the actor continued. “When I did The Muppet Show, same thing. I thought, ‘What a wonderful experience for him.’ … I was almost envious of him being able to have all these experiences.” Hamill and Marilou York’s second son, Griffin, was born the year Return of the Jedi came out, and their daughter, Chelsea, a few years later.
“My second son, Griffin, is more analytical and serious, and he says: ‘You know, Star Wars movies just aren’t for me. They’re too commercial for my liking’,” Hamill said. “My daughter likes them. Kids are all different!” All of Hamill’s children have careers in the arts, with Chelsea working as her father’s assistant; they have also all played background characters in some of the Star Wars movies.
Following Star Wars, Hamill has had a prolific voice acting career, famously playing The Joker in various animated DC Comics installments among many other animated characters while also taking on more noteworthy live-action roles. In 2025, Hamill portrayed the chilling villain known as “The Major” in The Long Walk, adapted from the milestone Stephen King novel of the same name.
Meanwhile, the Star Wars franchise further expanded, becoming more divisive once it was in the hands of Disney as they produced the uneven sequel trilogy and many tie-in Star Wars TV shows. Many people watch something featuring Hamill growing up, and while his children would have known more about these iconic properties from his side of things, their opinions on Star Wars are just as split.
- Cast
- Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
- The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
Leia Organa,
Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
