Mark Hamill

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BIRTHDAY

September 25, 1952

Oakland, CA

RECENT CREDITS

The Big Red One: The Reconstruction (FILM) Jan. 21, 2005

Reeseville (FILM) May. 7, 2004

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (FILM) Aug. 24, 2001

Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists (FILM) Mar. 24, 2000

Joseph: King of Dreams (FILM) Jan. 1, 2000

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BIOGRAPHY

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When Mark Hamill accepted the role of Luke Skywalker in George Lucas' Star Wars trilogy, he had no idea that he was going to become a cultural icon of callow youth, raw courage, and true heroism. Hamill was born the son of a naval captain, one of nine brothers and sisters. Hamill spent much of his youth traveling to different bases in the U.S. and Japan. He was studying drama at Los Angeles City Drama when he landed his first professional acting role as a guest star on the television series The Bill Cosby Show. Between 1972 and 1973, Hamill played Kent Murray on the television soap General Hospital and also did guest appearances on other television shows and in TV movies. In 1974, Hamill co-starred in The Texas Wheelers, a down-home sitcom that only lasted a season. He made his screen debut in Star Wars (1977) and became such a big hit that he had trouble getting other types of roles.
Shortly before the release of Star Wars, Hamill was involved in a terrible car crash that resulted in surgeons having to reconstruct his face. Despite the enormity of Hamill's popularity in this film, he was unable to attain a lucrative film career like his co-star, Harrison Ford, perhaps because he too closely identified with Luke in viewers' minds to be seen as anyone else. Instead, Hamill appeared in films such as Corvette Summer (1978), The Big Red One (1980), and The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1980). Hamill tried his luck on and off-Broadway and won excellent reviews for his work, playing the leads in The Elephant Man and Amadeus.
By the 1990s, he had largely been cast in direct-to-video ventures. On television, he provided his voice to at least two animated characters in The Adventures of Batman and Robin. In addition, Hamill starred in several hit CD-ROM games in the Wing Commander series and continues to appear occasionally on television. Finally, Hamill and his cousin, Eric Johnson, co-wrote The Black Pearl comic book series, which Hamill hopes to make into an animated movie.

~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

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Headlines

John Cho at the Los Angeles premiere of "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay". Arclight Cinerama Dome, Hollywood, CA. 04-17-08

The Top 10 Stoner Movies of All Time

Aug. 8, 2008

With Pineapple Express already well on its way to becoming this generation's Up in Smoke, it got us thinking about the best stoner movies of all time. Our 10 favorites are below, but burnouts beware: For obvious reasons, our list is comprised of the best movies about stoners, not necessarily for stoners. Which explains why there is no 2001: A Space Odyssey or Wizard of Oz or Ma...

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News, May 22: No Love for Dixie Chicks at Country Music Awards, Michael Jackson Hospit...

Posted: May. 22, 2003

Quote of the Day: George Lucas on Continuing "Star Wars" Saga

Posted: May. 17, 2002

Hamill strikes out at new "Strike Back"

Posted: Aug. 21, 2001

EXTRA: The Anakin Sweepstakes

Posted: Feb. 7, 2000

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