3 Actors Who Almost Played Luke Skywalker in 'Star Wars'

Luke Skywalker has always been at the heart of Star Wars, with the Skywalker Saga concluding last year with the release of The Rise of Skywalker. Actor Mark Hamill has played Luke since 1977 and by now he is basically a walking encyclopedia of awesome behind-the-scenes stories and knowledge from a galaxy far, far away. The Rise of Skywalker wrapped up a nine-part story that began with Luke dreaming of a life filled beyond Tatooine, but Hamill wasn't always the only one to audition to be the face of the franchise. Here are three actors who almost played everyone's favorite Jedi.

1. William Katt

William Katt is best known for his roles as the mild-mannered school teacher turned superhero Ralph Hinkley on the popular television series The Greatest American Hero, and Tommy Ross in the 1976 film adaptation of Carrie. Though he lost out on the part of Luke Skywalker, you can actually watch his audition tape on YouTube. Find it here.

2.  Charles Martin Smith

Charles Martin Smith was also up for the part of Luke Skywalker. Although he didn't get it, he had previously worked with George Lucas on the 1973 film American Graffiti, where he played Terry "The Toad" Fields. He went on to become a director, with works including the successful 1997 Disney film Air Bud and the pilot episode that launched Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

3. Kurt Russell

Last on our list is actor Kurt Russell, who began his film career at the age of 12 in the western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters. He has starred in tons of films, including Tango & Cash (1989), Stargate (1994), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). Russell was up for two Star Wars roles, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, though he didn't get either part. You can also watch his audition tape on YouTube here.