[Cicero]

I think it's been all downhill since the first Star Wars movie, which I liked best. But there's no way this could have been less than a blockbuster.

[Dog Gone]

Some Star Wars characters made it big; some didn't

By LOUIS B. PARKS
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

A long time ago in movie theaters just around the corner, some mostly unknown actors hit the big time when Star Wars became one of the hugest movie box-office surprises of all time.

It's the kind of luck that gives struggling actors a new hope, and Star Wars did create successful careers of one kind or another for many of its cast.

Harrison Ford (Han Solo) became a full fledged movie star.

Harrison Ford

Ford, whose most important role before Han Solo was playing a bad boy hot rodder in another George Lucas hit, American Graffiti, quickly got lead roles in several bland to bad Hollywood movies. His career didn't catch fire until 1981, a year after The Empire Strikes Back, when writer Lucas and director Steven Spielberg picked him (after Tom Selleck said no) to play Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Ford is now 62, but Indiana Jones 4 is still rumored for 2006. See www.harrison-fordweb.com.

The daughter of crooner Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds,

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), now 48, had done one small role before Star Wars as a teen who dallies with Warren Beatty in Shampoo. Her star did not jump to light speed after the Star Wars trilogy, despite losing the hated bun hair for Empire and most of her clothes for Return of the Jedi.

She found stardom of a different kind on best-seller lists. Her partly autobiographical novel Postcards From the Edge, which reflected some of her own substance abuse and movie-star mom issues, was made into a good Mike Nichols film starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine. See www.carriefisher.com.

Mark Hamill

The first hero of Star Wars, Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), almost didn't make it to Empire. Shortly after the original film he was badly hurt in a car crash, evident from his reconstructed mug in Empire. That movie opens with his face mauled by a Wampa ice creature to explain his new look.

He appeared in several Broadway productions (The Elephant Man) including creating the role of Tony Hart in the musical Harrigan & Hart, for which his singing and dancing got him a Drama Desk nomination. Hamill, 53, has been active in gaming, both as actor and in development, and has written graphic novels. See www.markhamill.com.

Peter Mayhew

Who knew Chewbacca was a Texan at heart? Peter Mayhew, the 7-foot-4-inch Englishman who plays the beloved furmeister, had done only one film, also in full costume, when Lucas recruited him for Solo's sidekick.

A hospital orderly prior to Wookiee life, Mayhew did only a few scattered roles outside the Star Wars trilogy. He went into business, but later became a draw on the fan convention circuit, where he met his American wife, Angie. They live in Granbury. He was thrilled to re-play Chewbacca in Revenge of the Sith. See www.petermayhew.com.

Alec Guinness

Star Wars' one true star was the great English actor Alec Guinness (Ben, Obi-Wan Kenobi). Guinness was nominated for a best actor Oscar twice, winning for The Bridge on the River Kwai, and nominated in support twice, including for Obi-Wan in Star Wars. Already 63 when Star Wars came out, much of his remaining career was in support roles. He died in 2000 at age 86.

David Prowse

The original Darth Vader was 6-foot-7-inch British weight-lifting champion David Prowse. Prowse, now 69, had many mostly minor film roles before Star Wars, such as the old man's bodyguard in A Clockwork Orange, where at least we can see his face. Lucas gave him a choice: Chewbacca or Vader. Prowse figured a villain was more memorable. He hasn't been active in movies since Return of the Jedi (in which we see a different actor's face as Vader), but he's still popular at Star Wars fan events. See www.darthvader-starwars. com.

Jones

James Earl Jones never appeared in a Star Wars film, but his contribution of the voice of Lord Vader is beyond measure. That astounding tone, his large size and impressive acting talent has made him one of the best known African-American actors. He was nominated for a best actor Oscar for The Great White Hope. He's always busy, mixing extensive voice work (The Lion King) with support roles whenever someone of impressive stature is needed. His voice is finally heard again, we think, as Vader in Revenge of the Sith.

Anthony Daniels

Is it the manner or the voice that drives us crazy about Anthony Daniels as C-3PO? No matter — he's the perfect combination of English butler and annoying comic sidekick. Star Wars didn't make him a star — no surprise — but he's long done the science-fiction convention circuit and acted in a number of television shows (Prime Suspect) — mostly British. The 59-year-old actor, who lives in London, is the only person to have a speaking role in all six Star Wars movies.

Kenny Baker

The other actor who contributes to all six movies, Kenny Baker, plays the series' other droid, the blessedly nonspeaking one, R2-D2. The tiny Baker (he's 3 feet 8 inches), now 70, lives in London and attends many fan events. See www.kennybaker.co.uk.

It's a pity that Peter Cushing's character, the wonderfully nasty Grand Moff Tarkin, did not survive the destruction of the Death Star in Star Wars.

Cushing

Along with the prequel trilogy's Christopher Lee, he was one of the great English horror and science-fiction villains of several decades, as well as a fine actor. Already 64 when Star Wars came out, he continued acting until his death in 1994.

louis.parks@chron.com