Mark Hamill’s 10 Best Roles Outside Star Wars

Mark Hamill is best known for playing Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, but the actor has given life to quite a few other great characters outside the galaxy far, far away. Mark Hamill got his big break in the original trilogy of Star Wars movies, and his time as Luke Skywalker has had a huge impact on his career. While he’s certainly best known for Star Wars, Hamill has also branched out into other franchises, genres, and even mediums. In fact, Hamill has played so many great characters in his career that narrowing down the best of them is quite a feat.

Plenty of actors known for Star Wars have made great movies, but very few of them have had as prolific careers as Mark Hamill. In his career, Hamill has had a role in over 300 shows, movies, games, and more. Many of those roles have been animated; for example, Hamill has appeared in seven voice roles in 2024 so far. Hamill even voiced some Star Wars characters who weren’t Luke, and while they were all great in their own way, he’s still played 10 characters who were better.

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in Star Wars and Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi Related How Old Was Mark Hamill In Every Star Wars Movie & TV Show?

Mark Hamill has portrayed the iconic Luke Skywalker for over 40 years, and he has aged and grown alongside his character through it all.

10 Sean – Wizards

Released: 1977

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One of Mark Hamill’s most unusual projects was the 1977 animated fantasy film Wizards. Hamill played the elf prince Sean in Wizards, and while it was a small role, it also stands out in his filmography. Wizards was only Hamill’s third project as a voice actor, after The New Scooby-Doo Movies and the animated Jeanie show, but it makes a strong case for being one of his most unique. Part of the reason Wizards was so unique was because it mixed fantasy elements like wizards and fairies with a post-apocalyptic setting that included quite a few World War II references.

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PGAnimationAdventureFantasySci-Fi

Wizards is an animated post-apocalyptic science fiction fantasy film directed by Ralph Bakshi, released in 1977. The story is set in a future where magic has re-emerged after a nuclear war and follows the battle between two wizard brothers, one representing good and the other evil. Featuring voice talent such as Bob Holt and Jesse Welles, the film combines traditional animation with live-action footage and explores themes of technology versus nature.

Director Ralph Bakshi Release Date February 9, 1977 Cast Bob Holt , Jesse Welles , Richard Romanus , David Proval , Jim Connell , Steve Gravers , Barbara Sloane , Angelo Grisanti

Though Sean died shortly after being introduced in Wizards, it was still a proof of concept for Hamill. Wizards was an early example of how Hamill was willing to take risks in his acting career, and that he was willing to still give his all to minor characters. On top of that, as his third voice acting role ever, Wizards helped set a trend that would last for the rest of his career. Sean may not have been the best or most memorable character, but it may have been a very important role for Hamill.

9 Professor Arnold – Kingsman: The Secret Service

Released: 2015

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Mark Hamill also had a small but notable role in Kingsman: The Secret Service, but as he did in Wizards, he made it memorable. Hamill played Professor Arnold in Kingsman, a character who was most known for a scene where his head exploded. While he didn’t have many scenes, Arnold was quite important to the plot of Kingsman, as his death helped Eggsy realize just how deep the conspiracy went. Arnold also went out with quite a bang, but most of the reason such a minor character remains so memorable is because of Hamill himself.

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Based on the comic book series of the same name, Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of rebellious teen Eggsy (Taron Egerton) as he’s inducted into a top-secret spy agency by a man codenamed Galahad (Colin Firth). After learning that billionaire Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) plans to destroy the world, Eggsy and Galahad set out to avert international disaster and uncover widespread corruption that threatens to consume the Kingsman agency itself. 

Director Matthew Vaughn Release Date February 13, 2015 Cast Michael Caine , Taron Egerton , Colin Firth , Mark Hamill , Samuel L. Jackson , Mark Strong Runtime 2h 10m Budget 81–94 million

Hamill had long since proven that he is a tremendous voice actor before Kingsman, but the spy thriller gave him a chance to show off another talent: accents. Arnold was a British man, so Hamill got to have a very impressive British accent in all of his scenes. Arnold was also a different type of character than the roles Hamill usually takes in live-action, as he was much more reserved and sheepish than the soaring heroes and villainous antagonists he usually portrays. Hamill brought a lot of nuance and skill to the role, and he proved he could shine in even the smallest of parts.

8 Ted/Brigsby Bear – Brigsby Bear

Released: 2017

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If Wizards wasn’t proof enough that Mark Hamill is willing to take part in unusual movies and shows, then Brigsby Bear should be. Hamill played both the titular cartoon bear in Brigsby Bear and the role of Ted, James’ father. One of the reasons Brigsby Bear is such an unusual film for Hamill is because it combines his talents for both live-action acting and voice acting. James quickly learned that Ted created Brigsby Bear himself to entertain his son, and after Ted was arrested, most of Hamill’s role in the film comes from voicing the titular bear.

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*Availability in US Director Dave McCary Release Date July 27, 2017 Cast Chris Provost , Kyle Mooney , Jorge Lendeborg Jr. , Michaela Watkins , Mark Hamill , Christopher Sullivan , Andy Samberg , Ryan Simpkins , Claire Danes , Greg Kinnear Expand

The reason Brigsby Bear is one of Hamill’s best non-Star Wars roles is because it almost serves as a snapshot of his entire career. In the same film, Hamill performs in both live-action and through his voice, and he plays both a hero to James and one of his greatest villains. Brigsby Bear is almost an homage to Hamill’s unusual path from live-action star to animation star, but it also features a staple of most of his work. Brigsby Bear, for as strange and dark as it is, also tells an incredibly hopeful and earnest story, which has been a hallmark of most of Hamill’s work.

7 Skips – Regular Show

Ran From: 2010 – 2017

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Though its title indicates the opposite, Regular Show also added to Mark Hamill’s list of odd projects. Hamill played Skips on Regular Show, an immortal yeti who worked as the groundskeeper of a public park. That description alone made Skips one of the most fun characters Hamill has ever played, but Regular Show put Skips into several more entertaining situations. Hamill is no stranger to voicing characters for children’s television, but Skips was one of his best – and longest-running – roles.

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Regular Show is an animated television series that follows the surreal adventures of Mordecai, a blue jay, and Rigby, a raccoon, who work as groundskeepers at a park. Created by J.G. Quintel, the series showcases their attempts to avoid work and find entertainment, often leading to bizarre and unexpected situations. The show also features a cast of quirky characters, including their boss Benson, a living gumball machine, and Skips, a yeti.

Cast J. G. Quintel , William Salyers , Sam Marin , Mark Hamill , Jeff Bennett Release Date September 6, 2010 Seasons 8 Creator(s) J. G. Quintel

A big reason Skips is so memorable among all of Hamill’s various characters is because of both his personality and the absurd situations Regular Show put him in. Whether it was arm wrestling Death or fighting a physical manifestation of his own stress in the Himalayas, Skips almost always had something interesting to do. The way Hamill played Skips, with his low, rumbling growl of a voice, also made those situations even funnier. Hamill was also able to transform him from a whacky yeti into a beloved but grumpy uncle-like figure.

6 Fire Lord Ozai – Avatar: The Last Airbender

Ran From: 2005 – 2008

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For all the heroics Luke Skywalker is known for, Mark Hamill is possibly better known for his villainous roles. One of the best villains Hamill ever played was Fire Lord Ozai in the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Ozai was obsessed with destroying the Avatar and ruling the four kingdoms using the fire-bending powers he gained from a once-in-a-lifetime comet. Hamill has played obsessive villains before and after Ozai, but something about his performance in Avatar: The Last Airbender remains special.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender is an Animated Fantasy and Adventure series that appeared on Nickelodeon and was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The series featured voices from Zach Tyler Eisen, Jack DeSena, Dante Basco, and Mae Whitman. The premise follows a young boy named Aang, an Air Bender who is set to be the next Avatar, master of all elements, in a bit to unite the nations together and bring peace.

Cast Mako , Dee Bradley Baker , Jack De Sena , Michaela Jill Murphy , Zach Tyler , Dante Basco , Mae Whitman Release Date February 21, 2005 Seasons 3 Showrunner michael dante dimartino

Hamill got a very special chance because of Ozai: he has so many different character traits and motivations, and all of them are evil. He’s essentially the Avatar version of Emperor Palpatine in his wickedness, and Hamill clearly had fun with the role. Whether it was abusing his children, plotting to overtake the world, or displaying his immense ego, Hamill gave every part of Ozai 100% of his effort. The result was a uniquely easy to hate villain, and a uniquely memorable one.

5 Art Rosenbaum – Invincible

Running Since: 2021

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Voicing villains isn’t the only way Mark Hamill has surprised audiences outside Star Wars, however. In Invincible, Hamill plays the decidedly goodhearted Art Rosenbaum, the man who made both Omni-Man and Invincible’s costumes. The twist with Art is that instead of playing a supremely powerful good guy, he’s just a normal man. Art doesn’t have any powers, and he can only help those that do. While Art is a far cry from Luke Skywalker, one of the most powerful Jedi ever, the role helped show an excellent side of Hamill’s acting.

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Based on the comic book character by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows Mark Grayson,  a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly average life save for the fact that he lives behind the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. Mark goes on to develop superhuman abilities, but he must also learn that his father’s legacy isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as he’s been led to believe.

Cast Mark Hamill , Gillian Jacobs , Jon Hamm , Mae Whitman , Steven Yeun , Walton Goggins , Ezra Miller , Jonathan Groff , Sandra Oh , Djimon Hounsou , Khary Payton , Seth Rogen , Jeffrey Donovan , Sonequa Martin-Green , Mahershala Ali , Malese Jow , J. K. Simmons , Clancy Brown , Zazie Beetz , Zachary Quinto , Jason Mantzoukas , Nicole Byer Release Date March 26, 2021 Seasons 2 Showrunner Simon Racioppa Expand

Hamill’s roles usually put him in a position of power, though whether his character uses them for good or evil often changes. Invincible allowed Hamill an opportunity to show that he can give an otherwise unremarkable character some very interesting and very compelling characterization. Art isn’t one of the best characters in Invincible, but he’s also much more than a footnote. The way Hamill played him, from his mannerisms and inflection to the emotion he puts into his voice, helped make Art much more than just a tailor for superheroes.

4 Skeletor – Masters of the Universe: Revelation & Revolution

Running Since: 2021

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Hamill has a unique ability to make the villains he plays into iconic characters, but Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Revolution proved that he could also step into an already-famous role flawlessly. Hamill played Skeletor in the recent Masters of the Universe sequels, a role which was already made famous by the 1980s show focusing on He-Man. Even though Skeletor already had a well-recognized voice and an established history, Hamill did quite a bit to bring his own flavor to the character.

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    He-Man and other heroes and classic villains return in Masters of the Universe: Revelations. This animated action-fantasy series is a sequel to the original 80s TV show. With He-Man and Skeletor presumed dead from their final great battle, the show switches perspectives to Teela, the captain of He-Man’s royal guard. Tasked with finding the lost Sword of Power, she and her allies will journey to realms unknown to prevent the end of the universe.

    Cast Kevin Smith , chris wood , Mark Hamill , Lena Headey Release Date July 23, 2021 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Showrunner Kevin Smith

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    A follow-up to the 2021 Netflix animated series, Masters of the Universe: Revolution is an animated action-adventure series written and created by Kevin Smith. He-Man and his allies return after the events of Revelation to continue their fight for the future of Eternia against Skeletor and his minions.

    Cast Mark Hamill , chris wood , William Shatner , Melissa Benoist Release Date January 25, 2024 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Showrunner Kevin Smith

Mark Hamill was probably the perfect actor to update Skeletor and bring the classic villain into the modern era for a new generation of viewers. The range of voices he’s capable of, coupled with his proven track record of playing classically villainous antagonists, meant he could handle anything Skeletor needed to do in the sequels. Masters of the Universe could even prove that his future endeavors will be successful, as Hamill will play the Flying Dutchman in a SpongeBob SquarePants movie, which will let him update another iconic cartoon villain.

3 Muska – Castle in the Sky

Released: 1991

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Many of Mark Hamill’s roles let him get very expressive and over-the-top with his villains, but Castle in the Sky showed that he doesn’t need to play exaggerated people to make them fascinating characters. Hamill voiced Muska in the English dub of Castle in the Sky, but many viewers didn’t realize it was him until the credits rolled. That’s because Muska was one of Hamill’s most subtle and reserved performances, and he did a great job of making Muska into a worthy villain.

Related Studio Ghibli: 10 Ways Castle In The Sky Changed In The English Version

Castle In The Sky’s English version is way different from its Japanese version. Here;s ow it changes.

Even though Hamill didn’t go overboard in playing Muska, that didn’t mean he wasn’t capable of making his villain intimidating. If anything, Muska’s calmness and straight-laced demeanor made him even more frightening for a children’s movie, and Hamill tailored his performance perfectly for the film. Hamill also got to inject some of his classic villain elements into the character, though, and he got to use his signature villainous laugh a few times in the film.

2 Private Griff – The Big Red One

Released: 1980

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Mark Hamill’s best live-action performance outside Star Wars came very early in his career. In 1980, Hamill played Private Griff in the World War II movie The Big Red One. War movies were extremely common in the 1970s and 1980s, but The Big Red One managed to stand out in a few very important and effective ways. The Big Red One isn’t a story about heroes or action, but rather about real people and the effects war has on them. That’s not an easy theme to put on film, and Hamill was a big reason The Big Red One managed it at all.

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The Big Red One is a war film directed by Samuel Fuller, detailing the experiences of a sergeant and his squad from the First Infantry Division during World War II. Starring Lee Marvin and Mark Hamill, the film follows their journey across Europe, highlighting the challenges and camaraderie of soldiers in combat. Based on Fuller’s own wartime experiences, it provides a gritty portrayal of military life.

Director Samuel Fuller Release Date July 18, 1980 Cast Lee Marvin , Mark Hamill , Robert Carradine , Bobby Di Cicco , Kelly Ward , Stéphane Audran , Siegfried Rauch , Serge Marquand Runtime 113 Minutes

Hamill’s Griff began The Big Red One as a sniper who was opposed to killing. By the end of the film, however, Griff becomes a hardened military vet, and one who’s not afraid to take down his enemies. One of The Big Red One‘s main messages is that survival is the most important thing in war, more important than sides, honor, or morals. Hamill’s performance as Griff was moving, it was human, and it provided quite a bit of legwork in delivering the movie’s theme. It’s easily one of his best movies, Star Wars included.

1 The Joker – Various Batman Projects

From 1992 to 2024

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Of all the villains Mark Hamill has voiced over the years, one stands above the rest: the Joker. Hamill has voiced the Clown Prince of Crime in dozens of animated DC movies, shows, and video games since 1992, when he joined the cast of Batman: The Animated Series. The Joker is by far Hamill’s best and most iconic character who isn’t named Luke Skywalker, and most fans of animated Batman stories will instantly recognize his voice. The Joker has always been popular, but it’s difficult to say if he would be the sensation he currently is without Hamill’s work.

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Batman: The Animated Series is an award-winning adaptation of the Batman mythos. Remembered for its groundbreaking art style and orchestrated soundtrack, Batman: The Animated Series features the Caped Crusader and countless characters from his rogues’ gallery. Kevin Conroy lent his now-iconic voice to the Dark Knight, with the show also featuring the voice talents of Mark Hamill (as the Joker) Arleen Sorkin (Harley Quinn), John Glover (the Riddler), Ron Perlman (Clayface), and David Warner (Ra’s al Ghul).

Cast Kevin Conroy , Mark Hamill , Bruce Timm Release Date September 5, 1992 Seasons 4 Showrunner Bruce Timm

There’s a reason Hamill has played the Joker for so long, and it’s because he’s fantastic as the homicidal antagonist. Everything about Mark Hamill’s voice, from his cackling laugh to his ability to sound both flamboyant and terrifying in the same breath, made him perfect for the role. He’s often considered one of the best Joker actors of all time, and he’s never even played the part in live-action. Mark Hamill has played quite a few great characters outside Star Wars, but the Joker easily secured the number one spot.

Headshot Of Mark Hamill In The Premiere of Disney's Star Wars Mark Hamill

Discover the latest news and filmography for Mark Hamill, known for Star Wars and Batman: The Animated Series.

Birthdate September 25, 1951 Birthplace Concord, California, USA Height 5 feet 9 inches Notable Projects Star Wars , The Empire Strikes Back , Return of the Jedi Professions Actor , Voice Actor , Writer , Producer

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