Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

WARNING: This character article contains major spoilers for The original and prequel *Star Wars* trilogy**!**
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## Darth Vader

* Anakin Skywalker
* Darth Vader

## Biographical information

### Related to

Shmi Skywalker-Lars (mother; deceased)Padmé Amidala (wife; deceased)

Leia and Luke Skywalker (twin children; both deceased)

Cliegg Lars (step-father; deceased)

Owen Lars (step-brother; deceased)

Beru Whitesun Lars (step-sister-in-law; deceased)

Han Solo (son-in-law; deceased)

Ben Solo (grandson; deceased)

### AKA

Ani (by Padme and his mother)
Skywalker (by Mace Windu and Yoda)
The Hero Without Fear (in the Clone Wars)
Darth Vader (later)
Skyguy (by Ahsoka)
Jedi scum (by Grievous)
The Betrayer (referred to by his desendant, Cade Skywalker)
Lord Vader
Vader
Father (by Luke)
Grandfather (by Kylo Ren)

### Born

41 BBY
Tatoonie

### Died

4 ABY
Endor

## Voice actors

### English

Jake LloydHayden Christensen (Episodes II and III)

David Prowse (original trilogy)

James Earl Jones (voice)

Sebastian Shaw

## Alignment and character traits

### Affiliations

Jedi Order
Jedi High Council
Galactic Republic
501st Legion
Sith
Galactic Empire
First Legion
Black Squadron
Imperial High Command
Death Squadron
501st Legion
Masters
Qui-Gon Jinn (informal Jedi Master)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master)

## Friends and Enemies

### Allies

Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Luminara Unduli, Qui-Gon Jinn, Padmé Amidala, R2-D2, C-3PO, Yoda, Darth Sidious (formerly), Jar Jar Binks, Bail Organa, Mace Windu, Watto, Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Plo Koon, Wilhuff Tarkin, Wullf Yularen, Owen Lars, Beru Whitesun Lars, Boba Fett

### Enemies

Darth Sidious, Count Dooku, General Grievous, Jango Fett, Battle Droids, Han Solo (formerly), Luke Skywalker (formerly), Leia Organa (formerly), Asajj Ventress (formerly), Watto (formerly), Sebulba, Cad Bane, Rako Hardeen, Boba Fett (formerly), Tusken Raiders

**Darth Vader** (real name **Anakin Skywalker**) (born 41 BBY-dies 4 ABY) is the pivotal antagonist in the original *Star Wars* trilogy. He is the father of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, husband of Padmé Amidala, and the grandfather of Kylo Ren/Ben Solo.

He was portrayed by David Prowse and voiced by James Earl Jones in the original trilogy.

## Why He Rocks

1. He has become one of the most iconic villains in popular culture, and has been listed among the greatest villains and fictional characters ever.
	* And even if you're never a fan or unfamiliar with *Star Wars*, you can still recognize Vader with his design.
2. His line, "No, I *am* your father," (even though it's constantly misquoted as "Luke, I am your father" due to Mandela effect) is one of the most well known quotes in cinema history.
3. He was portrayed very well by James Earl Jones.
4. His iconic status has made the character a **synonym for evil** in popular culture.
	* This is quite ironic, though, considering his redemption at the end of *Return of the Jedi*.
5. His design is nice to look at.
6. The scene in *Rogue One* featuring Darth Vader himself is awesome.
7. He is a very intimidating villain, especially his first appearance in *A New Hope*.
8. His redemption can bring viewers to tears, because he sacrificed himself to save his son from Darth Sidious.
9. Even if you hated his alter-ego as Anakin Skywalker, you can understand and feel the sense of tragedy that he was going through:
	* Anakin was born as a slave along with his mother in Tattooine, until he won the podrace and left his home planet and his mother to train and become a Jedi. Only just to find her tortured and dead when he first meet her again.
	* He was disrespected and distrusted by the Jedi council, and was never made into a Jedi master, albeit after all the hard work that Anakin has done for them over the years.
	* Knowing him, Anakin would of likely rejected the sith if the Council understood emotions.
	* Since forming relationships is taboo according to the Jedi council, and Anakin wasn't allowed to form bonds with other people, he disobeyed the order to form a secret marriage with Padmé, and chooses to spend the rest of his life with her. That is until he had his anger get the best of him, which resulted in the death of his wife.
		+ He had gained strong friendships with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, and having those bonds can make a person much stronger on the inside.
		+ His emotions help him understand clones, as he was often good friends with them.
	* His line in Episode 3 "From my point of view the Jedi are evil" makes sense to his tragic story as:
		+ Jedi took him from his mother and wouldn't allow him to visit her which ultimately lead him be too late to save her and her panful death.
		+ They wouldn't allow him to be with woman he loves.
		+ Treated him like a pawn because they didn't trust him.
		+ Make him abandoned his apprentice when she needed them the most. They also refused to admit they were the one who betrayed her.
		+ Didn't grant him the rank of master, something he spend *13 years* of his life to gain which basically led to him believe he wasted his life and they indirectly called him a failer for failing to train his apprentice to become a Jedi Knight when she left the order.
		+ Sees how the other Jedi disobey their code and hypocritically lecturing him of disobeying the Jedi Code when they did.
		+ The man he considered a brother uses his wife to find him and doesn't even hesitate to assassinate him.
		+ Basically he believes the Jedi have destroyed his life
	* His uncontrollable anger and fear and having the will to turn evil, go into madness, and lose everything, was enough to make Darth Sidious manipulate him and turn to the dark side.
	* His decisions of wanting to save his wife from death costed him his love for Padmé, his friendship with Obi-Wan, his honor from the Jedi, and (nearly) his life.
	* After losing his limbs and burnt to a crisp by his former master, Anakin had to spend the rest of his life in a robotic suit that will have to keep him alive.

## The Only Bad Quality

1. In the prequel trilogy, his relationship with Padmé in the second prequel as a young man feels very forced. At least The Clone Wars series and Revenge of the Sith made their relationship look real, genuine and cute without it being forced.