What happened to the cast of Star Wars?

Forget the prequels, the original 'Star Wars' trilogy is the best - Lightsabers, daddy issues, "Using the force" and, of course, gold bikinis.

However, only Harrison Ford went on to become a major movie star.
But what of Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Chewbacca and co?

We tracked them down to find out what happened after the evil Empire was defeated.

Mark Hamill
A relative newcomer, Hamill played Luke Skywalker with a winning earnestness. Unlike Ford, who managed to shake off his roguish Han Solo persona, Hamill has been defined by the wide-eyed innocent character ever since.
A chance to avoid typecasting by appearing in films like 'The Big Red One' made little impact, and instead he went on to enjoy some success on stage.

His biggest post-Star Wars success has come from work on numerous animated shows - famously providing the voice of The Joker on 'Batman: The Animated Series'. It was a role he reprised for the best-selling game 'Arkham Asylum' — but he has revealed that next year's sequel 'Arkham City' will be the last time he plays the character.

Carrie Fisher
Daughter of Hollywood stars Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher was a stand out as the take-no-nonsense Princess Leia.
Subsequently descending into a life of addiction and depression, she managed to turn it around and chart her troubles in the memoir 'Postcards from the Edge' — which was turned into a film.

Fisher has now carved a second career as a script doctor — putting her touch on films like 'Sister Act', 'Hook' and 'The Wedding Singer'.
She appeared in 'Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back', alongside her 'Star Wars' co-star Mark Hamill.

Sir Alec Guinness
The media hardly took any notice of 'Star Wars' during the making of it. However, any attention aimed at the film was purely because of the presence of Sir Alec Guinness — with many wondering why the acting great was involved in some "silly space opera".
He was a canny old soul though — negotiating a percentage of the film's profits after being one of the very few who believed the film would be a hit.

Despite his Oscar wins and seminal performances in 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' and 'The Bridge on the River Kwai', all were overshadowed by the success of 'Star Wars' and its sequels - something which would continually annoy the celebrated British knight.
He died in 2000, aged 86.

Kenny Baker
A former circus performer, Kenny Baker was plucked from obscurity to play R2-D2 — one half of the bickering robots who appear in all six of the 'Star Wars' movies.
That on-screen feud with C-3PO would reportedly translate into real life — with the actors allegedly not seeing eye to eye.
Baker's other screen credits include 'Time Bandits', 'Labyrinth' and an appearance on everyone's favourite British hospital drama 'Casualty'. The diminutive actor also played an Ewok in 'Return of the Jedi'.
He released his autobiography last year.

Anthony Daniels
Daniel's haughty C-3P0 and Baker's oddball R2-D2 were the only characters to feature in all six 'Star Wars' films.
An ever-present fixture on the 'Star Wars' convention circuit, Daniels has managed to make his flamboyant character endure for decades, appearing on countless radio and TV shows, including 'Sesame Street'. He has also voiced the character in videogames and animated shows.

Peter Mayhew
Standing at an impressive 7 feet 3 inches, Mayhew got his big break (pardon the pun) playing a minotaur in a 'Sinbad' movie before being cast as Han Solo's trusty sidekick Chewbacca.
He may have been described as a "flea-bitten fur ball" by C-3PO, but Mayhew made the character more than just a man in a suit. In fact, it's his tortured roar during Han Solo's capture in 'Empire Strikes Back', which gives the scene its most powerful moment.
Like Daniels, Mayhew is a 'Star Wars' convention regular.

David Prowse
A former bodybuilder and Green Cross Code man; Prowse was offered the role of both Chewbacca and Darth Vader to choose from. Deciding that the villain would be more memorable, he went for Vader.
It would be a wise decision, but he would not reap the rewards that he expected.
According to Prowse, he was under the impression he would be supplying the voice as Vader. Unsurprisingly, his West Country accent was not used.
He was further irked to discover that he wasn't included in the unmasking of Vader in the third film — which featured actor Sebastian Shaw instead.
Like many of the original cast, he is a regular fixture on the convention circuit. However, it was recently reported that Prowse was banned from attending official 'Star Wars' conventions after, according to Prowse, "burning too many bridges" with George Lucas.

James Earl Jones
Jones' booming voice has been used to great effect on many films and TV shows — most notably as 'Lion King's Mufasa.
However, it's the voice of Vader that he is best known for.
He asked to be uncredited for the first two films, believing that he was little more than a special effect in the film. However, he was persuaded to ask for a credit in 'Return of the Jedi'.
A hugely accomplished screen and stage actor, Jones has been an ever-present figure in movies and TV shows since the success of Star Wars, and was recently seen on stage in London's West End in a production of 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'.
Jones supplied the voice for Vader at the end of the last 'Star Wars' film.