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| {{Infobox Star Wars character | |||
| |name = Darth Vader | |||
| |image = Darth Vader.jpg | |||
| |caption = ] as Darth Vader in <br />''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980)<br /> | |||
| |portrayer = ] and ] <br><small>(''Episodes IV-VI'')</small> <br>] <br><small>(''Episodes III-VI'', voice)</small> <br> ]<br><small>(''Episode VI'')</small> <br>] <br><small>(''Episode I'')</small> <br>] <br><small>(''Episode II'' and ''Episode III'')</small> <br>] <br><small>('']'', voice)</small> <br>] <br><small>('']'', voice)</small> | |||
| |position = ], ], Supreme Commander | |||
| |species = ]/]</small> | |||
| |family = ] <br><small>(mother)</small> <br>] <br><small>(stepbrother)</small> | |||
| |spouse = ] <br><small>(wife)</small> | |||
| |children = ] <br><small>(son, with ])</small> <br>] <br><small>(daughter, with ])</small> | |||
| |planet = ] | |||
| |affiliation = ], ] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Darth Vader''', also known as '''Anakin Skywalker''', is a central character in the ] saga,<ref name="bowen94">{{Harvnb|Bowen|2005|p=94}}</ref><ref>Helinski, Keith. "", ''moviefreak.com''. Retrieved May 5, 2007.</ref><ref>Winzler, Jonathan W. "", ], April 2005. Retrieved May 5, 2007.</ref> appearing as one of the main ]s in the ] and as the main ] in the ]. | |||
| The character was created by ] and numerous actors have portrayed him. His appearances span all six ''Star Wars'' films, and he is an important character in the ] of television series, video games, novels, literature and comic books. The films establish that there was originally a ] Knight named Anakin who fell to the ] of the ];<ref>Thornton, Mark. "", ], May 13, 2005. Retrieved May 5, 2007.</ref> he is also revealed to be the father of both ] and ], the two main protagonists of the original trilogy. Vader is ultimately redeemed in '']'', when he sacrifices himself to save his son, Luke. | |||
| Vader's name has become used as a synonym for a powerful form of evil, in both televisual ] and political discourse. | |||
| ==Concept and creation== | |||
| ], the designer of Darth Vader, visiting ] in 2008]] | |||
| ] sculpted Darth Vader's costume using Ralph McQuarrie's design.<ref name="starwarscom">, StarWars.com, March 24, 2010</ref>]] | |||
| ], who completed the character with elements from four separate departments: a monk's cloak from the ecclesiastical division, a World War II German helmet and gas mask from the military department, a leather undersuit from the motorcycle department, and a metal breastplate from the ] section.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rueda |first=Andres |url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23327787@N08/3454490060 |title=Darth Vader Costume |publisher=Flickr |date=April 18, 2009 |accessdate=November 7, 2010}}</ref>]] | |||
| While the first draft of ''Star Wars'' includes a tall, grim general named ''Darth Vader'', the character came closer in line with his final depiction in the second revision.<ref name="vaderstarwars.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/darthvader/|title=Vader, Darth|accessdate=August 12, 2010|publisher=]|work=Databank}}</ref> A character named "Anikin Starkiller" also appears in an early draft of ''Star Wars'', playing a role similar to Luke Skywalker's, as the 16-year-old son of a respected warrior.<ref name="anakinbts">{{cite web|url=http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/anakinskywalker/|title=Skywalker, Anakin|publisher=]|accessdate=August 12, 2010|work=Databank}}</ref> Vader's mask was originally designed by ] as part of Vader's spacesuit, and not intended to be part of the regular costume.<ref name="vaderstarwars.com" /> ] sculpted Darth Vader's costume based on McQuarrie's design.<ref name="starwarscom" /> | |||
| After '']'' was successful, Lucas hired science fiction author ] to write ''Star Wars II'' (later retitled '']'') with him. They held story conferences and, by late November 1977, Lucas had produced a handwritten treatment called ''The Empire Strikes Back''. The treatment is very similar to the final film, except that Darth Vader does not reveal he is Luke's father. In the first draft that Brackett would write from this, Luke's father appears as a ghost to instruct Luke.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hollywoodgothique.com/starwarstrilogy1997.html | publisher=Hollywood Gothique | title=Star Wars : The Original Trilogy – Then And Now | author= Biodrowski, Steve | accessdate=March 28, 2008}}</ref> George Lucas was disappointed with the script, but Brackett died of cancer before he could discuss it with him.<ref>{{harv|Bouzereau|1997|p=144}}</ref> With no writer available, Lucas had to write his next draft himself. In this draft, he made use of a new plot twist: Darth Vader claiming to be Luke's father. According to Lucas, he found this draft enjoyable to write, as opposed to the year-long struggles writing the first film.<ref>{{cite video|title=]|medium=DVD|publisher=]|date=2004}}</ref> | |||
| This new story pointing out that Darth Vader was Luke's father had drastic effects on the series. Michael Kaminski argues in his book that it is unlikely that the plot point had ever seriously been considered or even conceived of before 1978, and that the first film was clearly operating under an alternate storyline where Vader was a separate character from Luke's father;<ref>{{harvnb|Kaminski|2008|pp=120–121}}</ref> there is not a single reference to this plot point before 1978. After writing the second and third drafts of ''Empire Strikes Back'' in which the point was introduced, Lucas reviewed the new backstory he had created: Anakin Skywalker had been ]'s brilliant student and had a child named Luke, but was swayed to the dark side by Emperor ] (who became a ] and not simply a politician). Anakin battled Kenobi on the site of a volcano and was badly wounded, but then resurrected as Darth Vader. Meanwhile, Kenobi hid Luke on ] while the ] became the tyrannical ] and Vader systematically hunted down and killed the Jedi.<ref>{{harvnb|Kaminski|2008|pp=164–165}}</ref> This change in character would provide a springboard to the "Tragedy of Darth Vader" storyline that underlies the prequels.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=March 28, 2008|url=http://www.starwars.com/bio/lawrencekasdan.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080606085730/http://www.starwars.com/bio/lawrencekasdan.html|archivedate=June 6, 2008|title=Lawrence Kasdan |publisher=Star Wars }}</ref> | |||
| For '']'', the first film in the prequel trilogy, Lucas made Anakin nine years old to make the character's departure from his mother more poignant.<ref name="anakinbts" /> Movie trailers for ''The Phantom Menace'' focused on Anakin, and a one-sheet poster showing him casting Vader's shadow informed otherwise unknowing audiences of the character's eventual fate.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bowen|2005|p=22}}</ref> The movie ultimately achieved a primary goal of introducing audiences to Anakin Skywalker.<ref name="bowen94" /> | |||
| After deciding to create the prequels, Lucas indicated the series would be a ] one examining Anakin Skywalker's fall to the dark side. He also saw that the prequels could form the beginning of one long story that started with Anakin's childhood and ended with his death. This was the final step towards turning the film series into a "Saga".<ref>{{harvnb|Kaminski|2008|pp=299–300}}</ref> | |||
| Michael Kaminski, in ''The Secret History of Star Wars'', offers evidence that issues in Anakin's fall to the dark side prompted Lucas to make massive story changes, first revising the opening sequence of '']'' to have Palpatine kidnapped and his apprentice, ], murdered by Anakin as the first act in the latter's turn towards the dark side.<ref>{{harvnb|Kaminski|2008|pp=380–384}}</ref> After principal photography was complete in 2003, Lucas made even more massive changes in Anakin's character, re-writing his entire turn to the dark side; his fall from grace would now be motivated by a desire to save his wife, ], rather than the previous version in which that reason was one of several, including that he genuinely believed that the Jedi were plotting to take over the Republic. This fundamental re-write was accomplished both through editing the principal footage, and new and revised scenes filmed during pick-ups in 2004.<ref name="star wars 3 documentary">{{cite video|title=Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith documentary "Within a Minute"|medium=DVD documentary|date=2005}}</ref> | |||
| ===Portrayals===<!--if renaming this section, please update anchor link in infobox--> | |||
| ] ]'s size and stature allowed him to fill out the large Vader costume in the original Star Wars trilogy, although ] ] portrayed Vader during the intense ] fight scenes in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi''.<ref name="vaderstarwars.com" /> ] originally portrayed the unmasked Vader in ''Return of the Jedi'', although ] of ] replaced Shaw's appearance of Vader as a ghost in the 2004 DVD release. ], who provided the voice of Darth Vader, was initially uncredited in ''A New Hope'' and ''The Empire Strikes Back'' because Jones felt his contributions were too small to warrant recognition.<ref name="vaderstarwars.com" /> | |||
| ] was chosen from over 3,000 prospective child actors to play Anakin in ''The Phantom Menace''.<ref name="bowen3">{{Harvnb|Bowen|2005|p=3}}</ref> Casting director Robin Gurland initially thought Lloyd was too young to play the role; however, upon another meeting several years later, Gurland believed Lloyd was an appropriate choice for the part.<ref name="bowen3" /> | |||
| ] played Anakin in ''Attack of the Clones'' and ''Revenge of the Sith''; he also donned Darth Vader's armor for the final scenes of the latter film. ] voiced Anakin for the '']'' animated series and in various Star Wars video games. ] voiced the character in the ] '']'' film and ]. | |||
| ==Appearances== | |||
| ===Films=== | |||
| ====Original trilogy==== | |||
| ] as Anakin Skywalker, unmasked in '']'' (1983)]] | |||
| Darth Vader is introduced in '']'' (1977) as a ruthless ] pursuing the film's protagonists. Vader is charged with recovering technical schematics of the ] stolen by the ], who seek to overthrow the ]. ] tells ] that Vader is a former Jedi who "betrayed and murdered" Luke's father. Obi-Wan and Luke — along with smugglers ] and ], and ]s ] and ] — help ] escape the Death Star. Vader kills Obi-Wan in a ] duel, and later escapes the Death Star's destruction during the film's ].<ref name=IV>''Star Wars Episode IV: The New Hope Strikes Back'', Special Edition (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2004), disc 1.</ref> | |||
| '']'' (1980), set three years later, depicts Vader leading an Imperial starfleet in pursuit of the Rebels. Emperor ] (]; ] in subsequent films), Vader's Sith master, tells Vader that "the offspring of Anakin Skywalker" must not become a Jedi; Vader promises that he will turn Luke to the dark side. To this end, Vader captures Leia, Han, Chewbacca and C-3PO on ], using them as bait for Luke, who has by now been partially trained as a Jedi by ] (]). During their lightsaber duel, Vader cuts off Luke's right hand and reveals that he is Luke's father; he then entreats Luke to convert to the dark side and help him overthrow Palpatine so they can "rule the galaxy as father and son". Horrified, Luke throws himself into Cloud City's reactor core, ultimately escaping aboard the '']''. Onboard his ], Vader ] tells Luke that it is his destiny to join the dark side.<ref name="IV"/> | |||
| In '']'' (1983), a dying Yoda confirms to Luke that Vader is indeed his father; moments later, Obi-Wan's spirit tells him he has a twin sister — whom Luke almost instantly divines to be Leia — and that he must confront his father to save the Rebellion. Luke surrenders himself to Imperial forces, hoping to turn his father back "to the light side". Vader brings Luke onto the second Death Star, where Palpatine tries to seduce Luke to the dark side. During their duel, Vader learns Leia's true identity and threatens to turn her to the dark side if Luke will not submit. Enraged, Luke attacks and overpowers Vader, severing his mechanical right hand. At the last minute, Luke realizes he is close to suffering his father's fate, and refuses Palpatine's command to kill Vader and take his place. An enraged Palpatine unleashes a torrent of ] upon Luke, who begs his father for help. The sight of his son's suffering breaks the dark side's hold on Vader, who kills Palpatine by throwing him into the Death Star's reactor core; in the process, however, he is mortally wounded by his master's lightning. The redeemed Anakin Skywalker asks Luke to remove his helmet; in his dying breaths, Anakin tells his son that there was good left in him after all. Luke escapes with his father's remains, which he burns in a ]. The same night, the Rebels celebrate the destruction of the Death Star and the fall of the Empire, and Luke sees the spirit of Anakin standing alongside the spirits of Obi-Wan and Yoda.<ref name=VI>''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'', Special Edition (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2004), disc 1.</ref> | |||
| ====Prequel trilogy==== | |||
| ] in ''The Phantom Menace'' (1999), ] in ''Attack of the Clones'' (2002), and ] in ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983). Shaw was digitally replaced with footage of Christensen for ''Return of the Jedi''{{'}}s 2004 DVD release.]] | |||
| Anakin Skywalker appears as a nine-year-old ] in ''Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace'' (1999). He is raised on the planet ] by his mother, ] (]), who says Anakin had no father, implying ].<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/?id=OZT9qNh30soC&pg=PA67&dq=%22anakin+skywalker%22#v=onepage&q=%22anakin%20skywalker%22&f=false|title=Applied Helping Skills: Transforming Lives|first=Jeffrey A.|last=Kottler|coauthors=Leah Brew|page=67|publisher=SAGE|year=2007|isbn=9781412949903}}</ref> He is a gifted pilot and engineer, and has the ability to "]". He even creates his own protocol droid, ]. Jedi Master ] (]) meets him after an emergency landing on Tatooine and becomes convinced the boy is the "Chosen One", foretold by a Jedi prophecy as the one who will bring balance to the Force. Anakin wins his freedom in a ], but is forced to part with his mother. Qui-Gon takes Anakin to the ], who forbid training on the grounds that the boy's future is clouded by the fear he exhibits. During the invasion of Naboo, Anakin helps defeat the ] by destroying their command ship. After Qui-Gon is killed in a duel with Sith Lord ] (]), his apprentice, the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (]), promises to train Anakin, a proposal the Jedi Council reluctantly accepts. During the film, Anakin forms a close bond with ] (]), ]'s queen. Palpatine, newly elected as the Republic's Supreme Chancellor, befriends the boy, telling him that "we will watch your career with great interest."<ref name=<big>''Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace'' (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 1999), disc 1.</ref> | |||
| ''Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' (2002), set 10 years later, depicts Anakin as Obi-Wan's ] learner. Palpatine assigns Anakin and Obi-Wan to investigate an ] attempt made on Padmé, who is now a senator. Anakin travels with her to Naboo, where they fall in love, even though emotional attachments are forbidden to the Jedi. Anakin has a vision of his mother in pain, and goes to Tatooine, where he learns that Shmi had been kidnapped by ]. He goes to the Tusken camp, where he finds his mother, mortally injured; she dies in his arms. Seized by a violent rage, Anakin slaughters the entire tribe. He returns with his mother's body, and tearfully confesses his crime to Padmé, who comforts him. Soon after, Anakin and Padmé travel to ], hoping to rescue Obi-Wan from Jedi-turned-Sith Lord ] (]) and his army of ]; instead, they are captured and sentenced to be executed. Anakin and Padmé confess their love for each other moments before being rescued by an army of ]s and Jedi. Anakin loses his right arm in a lightsaber duel with Dooku; it is replaced with a ]. At the end of the film, Anakin and Padmé marry in a secret ceremony.<ref name="III">''Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'' (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2005), disc 1.</ref> | |||
| ] as Anakin Skywalker in ''Revenge of the Sith'' (2005)]] | |||
| In ''Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'' (2005), set three years later, Anakin is a Jedi Knight and hero of the Clone Wars. He and Obi-Wan lead an attempt to rescue Palpatine, who has been kidnapped by Dooku and Separatist leader ] (]). During the rescue, Anakin defeats Dooku in a lightsaber duel, and decapitates him in cold blood at Palpatine's urging. When he returns to ], he meets with Padmé, who tells him she is ] with his child. That night, he has a vision of Padmé dying in childbirth; he fears it will come true, as it is similar to visions he had of his mother before she died. Meanwhile, Palpatine names Anakin his representative on the Jedi Council; the Council, suspicious of Palpatine's ] power in the Senate, denies Anakin the rank of Jedi Master, and asks him to spy on Palpatine, whom Anakin considers a friend and mentor. Angered by the snub and instructions to commit what he believes to be treason, Anakin begins to lose faith in the Jedi. | |||
| Palpatine eventually reveals to Anakin that he is the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, the mastermind behind the war, and that the dark side holds the power to save Padmé's life. Conflicted, Anakin reports Palpatine to Jedi Master ] (]). Despite orders to remain behind, Anakin follows Windu to the Chancellor's office to ensure Palpatine is captured alive. He walks in on Windu ready to kill Palpatine and intervenes on the Sith lord's behalf, severing Windu's lightsaber arm; Palpatine then kills Windu with a blast of Force lightning. Desperate to save his wife, Anakin pledges himself to the Sith as Palpatine's apprentice, Darth Vader. | |||
| Palpatine sends Vader to ], and then to assassinate the Separatist leaders on ]. Padmé meets him there and pleads with him to flee Palpatine's grasp with her. He refuses, saying that the two of them can overthrow Palpatine and rule the galaxy. When Obi-Wan emerges from Padmé's ship, Vader accuses her of conspiring against him and uses the Force to choke her into unconsciousness. Vader then engages Obi-Wan in an epic lightsaber duel, which ends when Obi-Wan severs Vader's legs and remaining organic arm in mid-air. Vader then slides too close to a ] flow and catches fire, sustaining life-threatening third-degree burns. Obi-Wan picks up Vader's lightsaber and leaves him to die. | |||
| Moments later, Palpatine rescues Vader and reconstructs his apprentice's ruined body with the ] limbs and black armor first seen in ''A New Hope''. When Vader regains consciousness, Palpatine tells him Padmé died as a result of Vader's anger. The news of her death breaks what remains of Vader's spirit, and he screams in torment. He is last seen alongside Palpatine and a young ] (]) viewing the construction of the first Death Star.<ref name="III"/> | |||
| ===Expanded Universe=== | |||
| <!--Check this section with WP:SUMMARY--> | |||
| ==== Animation ==== | |||
| In the animated series '']'' (2003), Anakin (voiced by ]) is made a Jedi Knight despite the Council's reservations. During the next three years of fighting in the Clone Wars, Anakin becomes a legend throughout ], renowned as "The Hero With No Fear". Anakin's adventures in the Clone Wars are also chronicled in the '']'' comic series. In the 2008 animated film '']'' and the subsequent ], Anakin (voiced by ]) takes on Padawan learner ] (voiced by ]). In the episode "Ghosts of Mortis", he sees a cryptic vision of his eventual transformation into Darth Vader. | |||
| ==== Literature ==== | |||
| Vader appears numerous times in ]s such as ]'s '']'' and ]' ''Star Wars'' series (1977–1986). '']'' (1999) which depicts Vader hiring a ] to bring him information about the pilot who destroyed the Death Star, ultimately meeting Luke for the first time. | |||
| In the novel '']'' (1978), Vader and Luke duel, and Luke cuts off Vader's right arm.<ref name="vaderstarwars.com" /> '']'' (1996) reveals that Vader is conflicted about trying to turn his son to the dark side of the Force, and knows deep down that there is still some good in him. In ]'s '']'' (2005), set a few months after the events of ''Revenge of the Sith'', Vader disavows his identity as Anakin Skywalker as he systematically pursues and kills the surviving Jedi and cements his position in the Empire. The novel also reveals that Vader plans to eventually overthrow Palpatine, and that he betrayed the Jedi because he resented their supposed failure to recognize his power. The redeemed spirit of Anakin Skywalker appears in '']'' (1993), set a few days after the end of ''Return of the Jedi''. He appears to Leia, imploring her forgiveness. Leia condemns him for his crimes and banishes him from her life. He promises that he will be there for her when she needs him, and disappears. In '']'' (2003), Leia learns to forgive her father after learning about his childhood as a slave and his mother's traumatic death. In '']''<!--which book?--> (2005), Luke and Leia uncover old recordings of their parents in R2-D2's memory drive; for the first time, they see their own birth and their mother's death, as well as their father's corruption to the dark side. In '']'' (2003), Anakin tells his grandson, ], to "stand firm" in his battle with the Supreme Overlord of the ]. In '']'' (2006), Jacen — who has himself turned to the dark side — uses the Force to "watch" Anakin slaughter the children at the Jedi Temple and become Darth Vader. | |||
| ====Video games==== | |||
| Darth Vader (voiced by ]) plays a central role in '']'' (2008). He is a playable character in the first level of the game, where he and his armies invade ] to hunt down a Jedi who had survived the Order's destruction. Vader kills the Jedi and kidnaps the man's young Force-sensitive son, whom he raises as his secret apprentice. Vader sends ] — the game's protagonist — on various missions throughout the galaxy, with an ultimate goal to assassinate Palpatine so that Vader can rule the galaxy himself. Toward the end of the game, however, it is revealed that Vader isn't planning to overthrow Palpatine at all; he is merely using his apprentice to expose the Empire's enemies. At the game's climax, the player chooses between attacking Palpatine to help his Rebel friends escape the Death Star or killing Vader to become the Emperor's new apprentice. | |||
| He appears in the sequel '']'' as the main antagonist and final boss. | |||
| Vader is a playable character in other games, including '']'' , '']'' , '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and its '']'' expansion, and '']''. Vader is an active but ] in '']''. | |||
| In 2010, ] ranked Darth Vader 25th in the "Top 100 Videogames Villains".<ref>{{cite web|title=Darth Vader is number 25|url=http://www.ign.com/videogame-villains/25.html|publisher=IGN|accessdate=December 6, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| ==Characteristics== | |||
| In ''Attack of the Clones'', Anakin feels "smothered" by Obi-Wan Kenobi and is unable to control his life.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bortolin|2005|p=17}}</ref> By ''Revenge of the Sith'', however, Anakin's "father-son" friction with his master has matured into a more equal, brotherly relationship.<ref>{{cite book|title=Finding the force of the Star wars franchise: fans, merchandise, & critics|first=Matthew|last=Kapell|coauthor=John Shelton Lawrence|page=137|year=2006|publisher=Peter Lang|isbn=0820488089}}</ref> Once he becomes Darth Vader, each evil act he commits makes it harder for him to return to the light,<ref>{{Harvnb|Bortolin|2005|p=115}}</ref> but Vader ultimately escapes the dark side and redeems himself before he dies by saving his son and killing Palpatine.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bortolin|2005|p=x}}</ref> | |||
| Eric Bui, a ] at ] Hospital, argued at the 2007 ] convention that Anakin meets six of the nine diagnostic criteria for ] (BPD), one more than necessary for a diagnosis. He and a colleague, Rachel Rodgers, published their findings in a 2010 letter to the editor of the journal ''Psychiatry Research''. Bui says he found Anakin Skywalker a useful example to explain BPD to medical students.<ref name="BPD paper"/> In particular, Bui points to Anakin's ] and uncertainty over his identity. Anakin's ]s of the Tusken Raiders in ''Attack of the Clones'' and the young Jedi in ''Revenge of the Sith'' count as two ] episodes, fulfilling another criterion. Bui hoped his paper would help raise awareness of the disorder, especially among teens.<ref name="BPD paper" /> | |||
| ==Cultural impact== | |||
| Darth Vader's iconic status has made the character a synonym for evil in popular culture; psychiatrists have even considered him as a useful example to explain ] to medical students.<ref name="BPD paper">{{cite news|last=Hsu|first=Jeremy|title=The Psychology of Darth Vader Revealed|url=http://www.livescience.com/culture/psychology-darth-vader-revealed-100604.html|publisher=TopTenReviews|work=]|date=June 8, 2010|accessdate=June 8, 2010}}</ref> Anakin's origin story in ''The Phantom Menace'' has been compared to ]ifiers of ] racial identity,<ref>{{cite book|title=Black space: imagining race in science fiction film|first=Adilifu|last=Nama|url=http://books.google.com/?id=kHKzYBfEuSwC&pg=PT75&dq=%22anakin+skywalker%22#v=onepage&q=%22anakin%20skywalker%22&f=false|year=2008|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292717459}}</ref> and his dissatisfaction with his life has been compared to Siddhartha's before he became ].<ref>{{Harvnb|Bortolin|2005|p=xiii}}</ref> A ] church advised ] against seeing ''The Phantom Menace'' because it portrays Anakin as a ] figure.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bowen|2005|p=97}}</ref> A slime-mold beetle of the genus '']'' is named after Vader,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April05/slime-mold.Bush.Cheney.ssl.html|title=Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are now species of slime-mold beetles – but strictly in homage|work=Cornell News|publisher=]|accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> and several buildings across the globe are regularly compared to him.<ref>''An architectural Star Wars clash at Sierra Point'', ''San Francisco Chronicle'', News Page 4, April 17, 1986</ref><ref>''Property Values Reduced'',''Sun Sentinel'', October 27, 1991</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE7D9123FF93AA15755C0A960948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title= Focus: Seattle; Creating An Office Empire|last=Egan|first=Timothy|date=June 29, 1986|work=]|accessdate=May 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belltownmessenger.com/062007/062007-100-bellawards.html|title=the bell awards – Tom Graff (interview)|date=June 2007|work=Belltown Messenger|accessdate=May 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>.</ref><ref>"" ''Wayward Wellingtonians,'' July 11, 2008.</ref> A ] of Darth Vader looms over the south side of the ]'s northwest tower.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalcathedral.org/about/darthVader.shtml|title=About Darth Vader|publisher=]|accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> During the ], ] goaltender ] performed so well in an all-black mask that fans endearingly termed him "Darth Gerber".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/story/?id=250552 |title=Sens' Gerber has new mask, new outlook on season |publisher=Tsn.ca |date= September 24, 2008|accessdate=June 17, 2010}}</ref> Many commentators and comedians have also evoked his visage to ] politicians and other public figures, and several American political figures have been unflatteringly compared to the character. For example, ] referred to ]'s ] as the "Darth Vader of cable",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/08/22/8270018/index.htm|title=Al Gore Battles Old Cable Demons|first=Marc|last=Gunther|date=August 22, 2005|publisher=CNN|accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> and political strategist ] was known by his political enemies as "the Darth Vader of the ]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politics.netscape.com/story/2006/11/07/harvey-leroy-lee-atwater-was-a-republican-political-consultant|title=Harvey Leroy "Lee" Atwater, was a Republican political consultant|accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| On June 22, 2006, ] ] referred to himself as the Darth Vader of the ]. Discussing the administration's philosophy on gathering intelligence, he said to ]'s ], "It means we need to be able to go after and capture or kill those people who are trying to kill Americans. That's not a pleasant business. It's a very serious business. And I suppose, sometimes, people look at my demeanor and say, 'Well, he's the Darth Vader of the administration.'"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/22/sitroom.03.html|publisher=CNN|work=The Situation Room|title=Transcripts|accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> ] put on a Darth Vader helmet to address Dick Cheney as a "kindred spirit" on '']'' on January 25, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=81345&title=Cheney-Camera-3|publisher=]|title=The Daily Show: Cheney Camera 3|date=January 25, 2007|accessdate=December 6, 2008}}</ref> Cheney's wife, ], presented Stewart with a Darth Vader action figure on her appearance on the show on October 10, 2007. Both Stewart and ] have occasionally referred to Cheney as "Darth Cheney". In the ] cartoon show '']'', Dick Cheney's father is portrayed as being Darth Vader. At her presidential campaign event on September 19, 2007, ] also referred to Cheney as Darth Vader. At the 2008 Washington ] Dinner, Cheney joked that his wife ] told him that the Vader comparison "humanizes" him. George Lucas told '']'' columnist ], however, that Cheney is more akin to Emperor Palpatine, and that a better stand-in for Vader would be ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/opinion/19dowd.html?ref=opinion|title=The Aura of Arugulance|accessdate=April 19, 2009 | work=The New York Times | first=Maureen | last=Dowd | date=April 19, 2009}}</ref> An issue of '']'' referenced this quote, and compared Bush and Cheney to Vader and Palpatine, respectively, in a satirical article comparing politicians to various ''Star Wars'' and '']'' characters.<ref>Newsweek</ref> | |||
| Many films and television series have paid homage to Darth Vader. ] in '']'' (1985), dressed in a ], calls himself "Darth Vader from the planet ]" to convince the past version of his father to ask his mother to a dance. ] plays "Dark Helmet" in the ''Star Wars'' parody '']'' (1987). In '']'' (1997), Hooper X speaks at a comic convention about Darth Vader being a metaphor for how poorly sci-fi treats black people; he is especially offended that Vader, the "blackest brother in the galaxy", reveals himself to be a "feeble, crusty old white man" at the end of ''Return of the Jedi''. | |||
| The character has gained much positive reception as a classic film villain. The ] listed him as the third greatest movie villain in cinema history on '']'', behind ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/handv100.pdf?docID=246 |title=AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains |publisher=afi.com |accessdate=May 21, 2010}}</ref> Darth Vader was also ranked number two on '']'' magazine's 2008 list of ''The 100 Greatest Movie Characters''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/default.asp?c=2 |title=''Empire's'' The 100 Greatest Movie Characters |publisher=''Empire'' Magazine |accessdate=May 21, 2010}}</ref> '']'' magazine also ranked Vader on their list of ''The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmsite.org/100characters.html |title=''Premiere Magazine's'' The 100 Greatest Movie Characters |publisher=Filmsite.org |accessdate=May 21, 2010}}</ref> On their list of the ''100 Greatest Fictional Characters'', Fandomania.com ranked Vader at number 6.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fandomania.com/100-greatest-fictional-characters-10-6/ |title= The 100 Greatest Fictional Characters|publisher=Fandomania.com |accessdate=May 21, 2010}}</ref> Darth Vader was also the #1 ] on the ] series ''Ultimate Super Heroes, Vixens and Villains''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=191868&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=4615590 |title=Ultimate Super Heroes, Vixens and Villains Episode Guide 2005 – Ultimate Super Villains |publisher=TVGuide.com |date= |accessdate=November 7, 2010}}</ref> Darth Vader was also ranked as #1 in ]'s list of top 100 ''Star Wars'' characters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker is #1|url=http://www.ign.com/star-wars-characters/1.html|publisher=IGN|accessdate=December 6, 2010}}</ref> Furthermore, Darth Vader's quote in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' — "No, '''''I''''' am your father" (] as "Luke, I am your father"),<ref>{{cite web | author=Michael French| year=2003| title=The Common Concept of In |work=TheRaider.net | url=http://www.theraider.net/features/articles/indy_concept.php | accessdate=February 26, 2007}}</ref> — is one of the most well known quotes in cinema history. The line was selected as one of the 400 nominees for the ]'s '']'', a list of the greatest American movie quotes.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/quotes400.pdf?docID=205 |title=AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes: Official Ballot |publisher=]|date= |accessdate= July 2, 2010}}</ref> Vader received the Ultimate Villain recognition at the 2011 ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/george-lucas-makes-surprise-appearance-249019|publisher=]|accessdate=2011-10-16|first=Rebecca|last=Ford|date=2011-10-15|title=George Lucas Makes Surprise Appearance at Spike TV Scream Awards}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * "]" – the theme music that accompanies Darth Vader's appearances in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'' | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| *{{Cite book|first=Matthew|last=Bortolin|title=The Dharma of Star Wars|year=2005|publisher=Wisdom Publications|isbn=9780861714971|ref=harv}} | |||
| *{{Cite book|first=Jonathan L.|last=Bowen|title=Anticipation: The Real Life Story of Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace|publisher=iUniverse|year=2005|isbn=9780595347322|ref=harv}} | |||
| *{{cite book | last=Kaminski | first=Michael | year=2008 | title=The Secret History of Star Wars | publisher=Legacy Works Press | isbn=0978465237 | ref=harv }} | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *'']'', 1st edition paperback, 1999. {{Aut|]}}, {{Aut|]}} | |||
| *'']'', 2003. {{Aut|]}}, ISBN 0-345-42882-X | |||
| *'']'', 1st edition hardcover, 2005. {{Aut|]}}, {{Aut|]}}, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1 | |||
| *''The New Essential Guide to Characters'', 1st edition, 2002. {{Aut|Daniel Wallace}}, {{Aut|Michael Sutfin}}, ISBN 0-345-44900-2 | |||
| *''Vader: The Ultimate Guide'', 2005. | |||
| *''Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 1998. {{Aut|Dr. David West Reynolds}}, ISBN 0-7894-3481-4 | |||
| *''Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 1999. {{Aut|Dr. David West Reynolds}}, ISBN 0-7894-4701-0 | |||
| *''Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 2002. {{Aut|Dr. David West Reynolds}}, ISBN 0-7894-8588-5 | |||
| *''Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary'', hardcover, 2005. {{Aut|James Luceno}}, ISBN 0-7566-1128-8 | |||
| *{{cite web|url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/113/1131094p1.html|title=Darth Vader in Games: A Visual History|date=October 28, 2010|publisher=IGN}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{Wikiquote}} | |||
| *{{databank|category=character|subject=anakinskywalker|text=Anakin Skywalker}} | |||
| *{{databank|category=character|subject=darthvader|text=Darth Vader}} | |||
| *{{sww|Anakin Skywalker}} | |||
| *{{imdb character|0000005}} | |||
| {{Star Wars major characters}} | |||
| {{Star Wars The Force Unleashed}} | |||
| {{Episode I}} | |||
| {{Episode II}} | |||
| {{Episode III}} | |||
| {{Episode IV}} | |||
| {{Episode V}} | |||
| {{Episode VI}} | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Vader, Darth}} | |||
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