Special Report

40 Most Successful Star Wars Actors

Brendon Thorne / Getty Images

Star Wars has dominated at the American box office for the past 40 years. One-third of the country’s 15 top-grossing films of all time are Star Wars movies, and it is likely that future releases will also do exceedingly well.

The blockbuster series has lined not only the pockets of production studios, but of all those involved, especially the actors. In addition to introducing young, up and coming actors such as Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, numerous Hollywood superstars enjoyed taking part in the films — be it with larger or smaller parts.

24/7 Wall St. has identified the most successful Star Wars actors by creating an index based on audience ratings of each actors’ films and television shows – be they Star Wars or not – and the number of annual page views for each actor. This reflects both financial success as well as the actors’ level of celebrity.

Click here to see the most successful Star Wars actors.
Click here to see our methodology.

Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images

40. Hayden Christensen
> Character: Anakin Skywalker
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,936,231
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

[in-text-ad]

Joe Scarnici / Getty Images

39. Sally Hawkins
> Character: Villager
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,761,890
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

38. Lupita Nyong’o
> Character: Maz Kanata
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,973,820
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

37. Daisy Ridley
> Character: Rey
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,301,517
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

[in-text-ad-2]

Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images

36. Thandie Newton
> Character: Val
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,693,339
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

35. Richard Armitage
> Character: Naboo Fighter Pilot
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,093,890
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

[in-text-ad]

Christopher Jue / Getty Images for Disney

34. Adam Driver
> Character: Kylo Ren
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,624,423
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

33. Justin Theroux
> Character: Master Codebreaker
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,190,733
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com

32. Max von Sydow
> Character: Lor San Tekka
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 839,694
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

[in-text-ad-2]

Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

31. Frank Oz
> Character: Yoda
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 753,142
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

30. Marton Csokas
> Character: Poggle the Lesser
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 564,020
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

[in-text-ad]

Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images

29. Laura Dern
> Character: Vice Admiral Holdo
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,075,181
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

 

Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

28. Oscar Isaac
> Character: Poe Dameron
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,933,503
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

27. Donald Glover
> Character: Lando Calrissian
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 5,861,075
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

[in-text-ad-2]

Krista Kennell / Shutterstock.com

26. Joel Edgerton
> Character: Owen Lars
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,255,796
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Rich Polk / Getty Images

25. Alan Tudyk
> Character: K-2SO
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,013,985
> Star Wars appearances: Rogue One

[in-text-ad]

[Need Manual Image]

Jason Merritt / Getty Images
> Character: General Hux
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,302,065
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

23. Jon Favreau
> Character: Rio Durant
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,865,251
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

Riccardo Savi / Getty Images

22. Forest Whitaker
> Character: Saw Gerrera
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,499,834
> Star Wars appearances: Rogue One

[in-text-ad-2]

Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images

21. Rose Byrne
> Character: Dormé
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,923,984
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

20. Warwick Davis
> Character: Wicket, Wald / Pod race spectator / Mos Espa Citizen, Wollivan, Weeteef Cyubee, Wodibin, Weazel
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 983,276
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

[in-text-ad]

lev radin / Shutterstock.com

19. James Earl Jones
> Character: Darth Vader
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,754,085
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One

Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images

18. Simon Pegg
> Character: Unkar Plutt
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,429,451
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Antony Jones / Getty Images for Disney

17. Emilia Clarke
> Character: Qi’ra
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 6,950,857
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

[in-text-ad-2]

Tristan Fewings / Getty Images

16. Paul Bettany
> Character: Dryden Vos
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,112,243
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

Antony Jones / Getty Images for Disney

15. Benicio Del Toro
> Character: DJ
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,468,633
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

[in-text-ad]

Eamonn M. McCormack / Getty Images

14. Christopher Lee
> Character: Count Dooku
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,519,913
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Ilya S. Savenok / Getty Images for The New Yorker

13. Daniel Craig
> Character: Stormtrooper
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,251,761
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

12. John Ratzenberger
> Character: Rebel Force Major Derlin
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 636,639
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

[in-text-ad-2]

Joshua Sudock / Disneyland Resort via Getty Images

11. Mark Hamill
> Character: Luke Skywalker
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,156,872
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

10. Woody Harrelson
> Character: Beckett
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,837,468
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

[in-text-ad]

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

9. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
> Character: Slowen Lo
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,764,629
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Anthony Harvey / Getty Images for BFI

8. Keira Knightley
> Character: Sabé
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,712,027
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Daniel Boczarski / Getty Images for Wizard World

7. Carrie Fisher
> Character: Princess Leia Organa
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 4,562,475
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

[in-text-ad-2]

Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

6. Andy Serkis
> Character: Supreme Leader Snoke
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,665,799
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Ben Gabbe / Getty Images

5. Ewan McGregor
> Character: Obi-Wan Kenobi
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,920,004
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

[in-text-ad]

Mira (on the wall) / Flickr

4. Natalie Portman
> Character: Padmé
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 4,874,423
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Peter Kramer / Getty Images

3. Liam Neeson
> Character: Qui-Gon Jinn
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,827,872
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

DenisShumov / Shutterstock.com

2. Harrison Ford
> Character: Han Solo
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 4,216,407
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

[in-text-ad-2]

Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

1. Samuel L. Jackson
> Character: Mace Windu
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,870,526
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Detailed Findings & Methodology

Many of the most successful actors to appear in the Star Wars films reached the highest level of their careers after these roles. For instance, while Harrison Ford had some major roles prior to appearing in “Episode IV – A New Hope” – including appearances in “American Graffiti” and “The Conversation” – it was the Star Wars role that catapulted his career to worldwide fame. He’s since starred in numerous major movies such as “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “The Fugitive,” and “Air Force One,” and currently has an estimated net worth of $230 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Other actors find their way to the Star Wars universe after making a name for themselves. c appeared in 2017’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” as Vice Admiral Holdo, 24 years after becoming a household name after starring in “Jurassic Park.” Even Daniel Craig, best known for his work as James Bond, had an uncredited role as a Stormtrooper in 2015’s “The Force Awakens.”

Star Wars is such a cinematic powerhouse, however, that a single lead role in the series can be enough for an actor to be considered a success. Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill are both known for little more than their Star Wars characters, yet both make our list.

To determine the most successful Star Wars actors, 24/7 Wall St. measured fame by creating an index of two metrics: 1) Internet Movie Database audience user ratings of all films and television shows in which each actor appears. 2) The number of views each actor’s Wikipedia page received over the 12 months through May 2018. Acting credits were given additional weight. Only actors with at least 500,000 page views were considered.

Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)

Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?

Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.