Mark Hamill is a 73-year-old American actor born September 25, 1951, best known for playing Luke Skywalker in Star Wars and voicing the Joker in the Batman animated series. With over 250 roles spanning five decades, he has a net worth of $20 million and continues acting in films like The Long Walk (2025) while serving as a Ukraine humanitarian ambassador.
Who Is Mark Hamill?
Mark Hamill transformed from a struggling television actor into one of the most recognizable figures in entertainment history. His portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy launched him to instant fame in 1977, but his career extends far beyond that single role.
Born September 25, 1951, in Oakland, California, Hamill has built a diverse career that includes Broadway theater, prolific voice acting work, and humanitarian efforts. In 2025, he revealed he nearly retired from acting around 2019 but was revitalized by filmmaker Mike Flanagan, who cast him in The Fall of the House of Usher.
Hamill grew up as one of seven children in a military family, with his father William Thomas Hamill serving as a U.S. Navy Captain. The constant relocations during his childhood shaped his adaptability, attending schools in Virginia, California, and Japan before graduating from Nile C. Kinnick High School in Yokohama in 1969.
Early Career and Breakthrough
Before Star Wars changed everything, Hamill worked steadily in television. He majored in drama at Los Angeles City College and landed early roles on shows including General Hospital, The Texas Wheelers, The Partridge Family, and One Day at a Time. These parts paid modestly but kept him working.
His friend Robert Englund suggested he audition for Star Wars after seeing the casting call while auditioning for Apocalypse Now. Hamill’s agent had already arranged the audition. During his screen test, he thought he was playing a sidekick to Harrison Ford’s character and wasn’t sure if the film was meant to be a comedy.
Star Wars premiered on May 25, 1977, and became an unexpected cultural phenomenon. The original trilogy collectively grossed more than $1.8 billion worldwide. Hamill won Saturn Awards for Best Actor for both The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).
A serious car accident in 1977 required reconstructive facial surgery, but Hamill downplayed the severity. He addressed rumors directly, stating he only broke his nose despite wild speculation about extensive reconstructive surgery.
The Voice Acting Empire
While Star Wars made him famous, voice acting gave Hamill creative freedom and longevity. He began voice work in the early 1970s with the character Corey Anders on Jeannie by Hanna-Barbera Productions.
The Joker: His Signature Voice Role
Hamill’s casting as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992 happened almost by accident. Tim Curry originally voiced the character, but developed bronchitis and was replaced. Voice director Andrea Romano brought Hamill in as a guest for another role, where he impressed the team. When they needed to recast the Joker, Hamill auditioned, and the team immediately knew they had found their clown.
Romano said Hamill’s line reading was “dead-on” and his laugh captured all the bitter madness of the character. Hamill has said his Joker voice combines elements of Hannibal Lecter and Jerry Lewis.
He voiced the Joker across multiple platforms: 14 episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Justice League, and films including Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. He also voiced the character in video games, including the Batman: Arkham series, winning a British Academy Games Award for Best Performer.
In January 2023, Hamill announced he would no longer voice the Joker following the death of his Batman: The Animated Series co-star Kevin Conroy in 2022, stating, “Without Kevin there, there doesn’t seem to be a Batman for me”.
Beyond the Joker
Hamill’s voice work extends to over 250 roles. Notable characters include:
- Fire Lord Ozai in Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Skips in Regular Show
- The Hobgoblin in Spider-Man: The Animated Series
- Multiple characters in Ultimate Spider-Man
- Chucky in the 2019 Child’s Play remake
- The Flying Dutchman in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (2024)
His range spans heroes and villains across animation, video games, and anime. This versatility kept him employed and creatively fulfilled when live-action roles proved limited due to typecasting.
Return to Star Wars
Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm brought Hamill back to the franchise. He appeared briefly at the end of The Force Awakens (2015), had a starring role in The Last Jedi (2017), and returned for The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
For his brief cameo at the end of The Force Awakens, Hamill earned $3 million for under five minutes of screen time, one of the biggest paydays for such minimal camera time in film history.
Hamill had a darker pitch for Luke’s story in The Last Jedi. He thought Luke could have abandoned the Jedi path because he fell in love with a woman. While this wasn’t the direction chosen, Hamill gave compelling performances throughout the sequel trilogy.
He also appeared as a younger Luke in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, using motion capture and digital de-aging technology. In June 2025, Hamill stated he has no plans to return as Luke Skywalker, saying “I had my time” and that the focus should be on the future and new characters.
In August 2025, it was announced he would make a guest appearance in LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy: Pieces of the Past.
Recent Work and Career Renaissance
Around 2019, Hamill told his agent he wasn’t motivated anymore and considered retiring to do only voice work. His agent and wife rejected this plan. The turning point came when Mike Flanagan cast him in The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix.
Flanagan gave Hamill the role of Arthur Pym, an amoral, sociopathic lawyer. Hamill said this would have been routine for voice work, but playing pure evil on camera was transformative. Flanagan then cast him as an alcoholic accountant and grandfather in The Life of Chuck (2024), which premiered in 2025 to critical acclaim.
The Long Walk, a Stephen King adaptation directed by Francis Lawrence, was released September 12, 2025, with Hamill playing The Major, a military commander who oversees a deadly walking contest. The film received positive reviews and has grossed $55 million worldwide on a $20 million budget.
At Comic-Con 2025, Hamill said he didn’t expect to be this busy in his 70s.
Theater and Stage Work
Beyond film and television, Hamill pursued theater to avoid typecasting after Star Wars. Through the 1980s, he distinguished himself by pursuing a Broadway career, starring in productions of The Elephant Man, Amadeus, and The Nerd.
These stage performances demonstrated his range and commitment to craft. Critics praised his willingness to tackle challenging roles that contrasted sharply with Luke Skywalker’s heroic image.
Ukraine Humanitarian Work
In September 2022, Mark Hamill became an ambassador for United24, the official fundraising arm of the Ukrainian government, during an online call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He joined the Army of Drones project designed to raise funds for drone procurement, repair, and training.
Hamill called Russia “the evil empire” and said, “Right now is the best time for everyone to come together and help Ukraine stand up in this war with the evil empire”.
By October 2022, Hamill had helped send over 500 drones to Ukraine. He told Bloomberg Radio that drones “define war outcomes, protect their land, their people, monitor the border, they’re eyes in the sky”.
During his ambassadorship, Hamill gave dozens of interviews and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. He gave away 10 exclusive signed posters that brought in over $300,000. He also voiced the English version of the Air Raid Alert app, with his voice notifying users of danger and saying “May the Force be with you!” when alerts end.
This humanitarian work represents one of Hamill’s most meaningful contributions beyond entertainment, using his platform for international advocacy.
Personal Life
Hamill has been married to dental hygienist Marilou York since 1978. They have three children: Nathan (born 1979), Griffin (1983), and Chelsea (1988). All three have had cameos in various Star Wars productions.
In January 2025, Hamill and his wife evacuated their Malibu home due to the Palisades Fire, later moving to a rented house in Los Feliz.
Hamill has stated he had a troubled relationship with his father, who was a staunch Roman Catholic and Nixon Republican. His father couldn’t understand his childhood obsession with movies and comic books, viewing them as frivolous.
He’s an avid comic book fan and has remained deeply connected to fan culture throughout his career. He’s a lifelong fan of Laurel and Hardy and was an early fan of David Letterman, taping every episode and keeping a journal documenting the show.
Net Worth and Earnings
As of 2025, Mark Hamill has an estimated net worth of $20 million. This wealth comes primarily from Star Wars royalties, voice acting contracts, film appearances, and convention appearances.
His original Star Wars contract included profit participation. For Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977, he earned $650,000, which would equal approximately $2.7 million adjusted for inflation. For Return of the Jedi in 1983, he earned another $650,000.
The sequel trilogy proved more lucrative. Estimates suggest he earned between $5 million $10 million for The Last Jedi, though exact figures for The Rise of Skywalker remain undisclosed.
Voice acting provides a steady income. While individual voice roles may not match blockbuster film salaries, the volume of work across animation, video games, and commercials adds up significantly over decades.
Awards and Recognition
Hamill’s contributions to entertainment have earned numerous accolades:
- Two Saturn Awards for Best Actor (The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi)
- Saturn Award for Star Wars: The Last Jedi
- British Academy Games Award for Best Performer (Batman: Arkham City)
- Daytime Emmy Award for voice work in Elena of Avalor
- Five Behind the Voice Actor Awards for various productions
- Disney Legend designation in 2017
- Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2018
He has been nominated for two Annie Awards for his Joker portrayal, an Interactive Achievement Award, and a Spike Video Game Award.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Mark Hamill’s influence extends beyond box office numbers. His Luke Skywalker became a template for the hero’s journey in modern cinema, inspiring generations of filmmakers and actors.
His Joker voice became the definitive interpretation for many fans. Even live-action Joker actors reference Hamill’s performance when developing their own takes on the character.
Hamill initially struggled with embracing his Star Wars legacy. In a 2025 interview, he recalled how Carrie Fisher told him, “Get over yourself. You’re Luke Skywalker, I’m Princess Leia. Embrace it.” He said he finally understood what she meant.
His willingness to engage with fans through social media, conventions, and interviews has maintained his relevance. He treats fan interactions with respect and humor, understanding the impact these characters have on people’s lives.
What’s Next for Mark Hamill
At 73, Hamill shows no signs of slowing down. He expressed surprise at being this busy at this stage of his career, with multiple projects in various stages of production.
While he’s closed the chapter on Luke Skywalker, his voice work continues. His recent live-action renaissance proves he can still deliver compelling dramatic performances when given meaty roles.
The humanitarian work with Ukraine remains ongoing, demonstrating his commitment to using celebrity for meaningful causes beyond entertainment.
FAQs
How old is Mark Hamill?
Mark Hamill is 73 years old, born September 25, 1951. He continues acting in both voice and live-action roles as of 2025.
What is Mark Hamill’s net worth?
Mark Hamill’s estimated net worth is $20 million, earned primarily through Star Wars films, voice acting work, and convention appearances throughout his 50-year career.
Will Mark Hamill return to Star Wars?
No. In June 2025, Hamill stated he has no plans to return as Luke Skywalker, believing the franchise should focus on the future and new characters rather than the past.
How long did Mark Hamill voice the Joker?
Mark Hamill voiced the Joker from 1992 to 2024, spanning over 30 years across animated series, films, and video games. He retired the role in 2023 following Kevin Conroy’s death.
Is Mark Hamill married?
Yes. Mark Hamill has been married to Marilou York since 1978. They have three adult children: Nathan, Griffin, and Chelsea.
What are Mark Hamill’s recent movies?
Mark Hamill’s recent work includes The Fall of the House of Usher (2023), The Life of Chuck (2024), and The Long Walk (2025). He continues working on multiple projects.
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