Profile of Mark Hamill on Famous Like Me

Mark Hamill (born 25 September 1951 in Oakland, California) is an American actor and voice actor, best known for his portrayal of farmboy-turned-Jedi knight Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films. Hamill's film career since Star Wars has been mostly connected to lower-budget sci-fi movies that went straight to video, but he has been successful on Broadway, as a voice actor in animation and video games, and as a comic book creator.

Perhaps the role for which Hamill is best known, Luke Skywalker aside, is the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series and the other animated series that followed it. His success in the role has led to various villainous and/or deranged roles in other animated series, including the Gargoyle in the animated series of The Incredible Hulk, the Hobgoblin in the Spider-Man animated series, Maximus in Fantastic Four, Cock-Knocker from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and the deranged shock jock Dr. Jak in Phantom 2040. He also voiced Larry 3000 in Time Squad. He also recorded voice tracks for Zim on Nickelodeon's Invader Zim, but was ultimately turned down for the role; the part was later given to Richard Steven Horvitz (he didn't scream longest and loudest). Two recent notable performances have included Colonel Muska in the English language version of Castle in the Sky and the Mayor of Pejite in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, both directed by Hayao Miyazaki and distributed by Disney. One of Hamill's current projects is providing voice acting overdubs for Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, the sequel of the 1980s adapted anime series Robotech.

He starred and directed the 2004 direct-to-DVD Comic Book: The Movie. A comic book fan, Hamill has said his character was based on an exaggerated version of himself. He and his crew shot the mockumentary movie primarily during the 2002 San Diego Comic-Con, and enlisted even Stan Lee, Kevin Smith, and Hugh Hefner in small roles. The movie won an award for Best Live-Action DVD Premiere Movie at the 2005 DVD Exclusive Awards.

In live-action television, Hamill had recurring roles in General Hospital and The Texas Wheelers (both pre-Star Wars), and, foreshadowing his later famous role, appeared as The Trickster in the live-action television series of The Flash. He has also been made cameo appearances in MADTv, The Simpsons, and Third Rock From the Sun among others.

When the Wing Commander series of computer games started using full motion video cut-scenes, Hamill was cast as the series protagonist, Colonel Christopher Blair, a role he played in Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger (1994), Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom (1995), and Wing Commander: Prophecy (1997). (In the 1999 Wing Commander film, set earlier in the series, the character was played by Freddie Prinze, Jr..) Other notable computer-game roles (voice only) include Lieutenant Mosely in Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, Assistant Director Wilson in Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix, several characters in the LucasArts game Full Throttle (including Ripburger), and Wolverine in X2: Wolverine's Revenge, the tie-in game to the movie X2: X-Men United.

On 11 January 1977, on the way to shoot one of the final scenes needed for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Hamill was involved in a car accident that caused damage to his face. Though some minor scarring would last, the severity of his injury was greatly exaggerated in the following years. Rumors continue to abound that he suffered terrible disfigurement and was forced to undergo intense plastic surgery in order to resume his acting career. Hamill, however, insists he only suffered from a broken nose. In the second Star Wars film, Episode V, he is seen with a new scar along his upper lip which may or may not be related. In an A&E Biography special from 2002, the nature and result of the accident are explained by Hamill's family.

Hamill married Marilou York in 1978; they have three children - Nathan Elias, Griffin Tobias and Chelsea Elizabeth. Mark Hamill is also the co-writer of The Black Pearl, a comic book mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics.

Some of his other film credits include Corvette Summer, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia, The Big Red One, The Guyver, and the 1995 remake of Village of the Damned.

He starred with Linda Blair in the tv-movie Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic.

Although Hamill has been replaced in the role of the Joker, in Warner Bros. new animated incarnation of the Dark Knight many fans consider Hamill to be the best Joker. In a show of support many fans on the net tried talking WB executives to sign Mark back on, with or without Kevin Conroy. Also many critics agree that the reason of The Batman's unsuccessful run as of late is because of Mark's departure. Fans keep saying that no one gave as much to the role of the Joker as Mark.

Trivia

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