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Played by: David Prowse (voice: James Earl Jones) Darth Vader was born Anakin Skywalker, who later became the father of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. As a young by, Anakin and his mother, Shmi Skywalker were slaves owned by an alien named Watto. When Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Queen Amidala went to the planet of Tatooine, Qui-Gon noticed young Anakin when he sensed the unusual strength of the Force in him. Qui-Gon made a deal with Watto that if Anakin won the pod race--which no human has ever done--then he would grant him his freedom. Anakin learned how to be a pilot at an early age, and was one of the warriors in the Clone Wars, along with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin married Queen Amidala, who gave birth to twins, Luke and Leia Skywalker. Obi-Wan wanted to train Anakin to be a Jedi the same way Yoda taught himself, but he failed. The Emperor knew that Anakin was growing weary of Obi-Wan's ways, so he offered Anakin a easier path, the dark side. When Obi-Wan realized what was happening to Anakin, he tried to turn him back, but they engaged in a brutal conflict, which left Anakin's body destroyed; able only to survive with an artificial respirator and synthetic limbs. When Ob-Wan learned that Anakin had survived, he separated and sent his infant twins away. Now a Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader helped the Emperor hunt down and destroy the Jedi. Vader was later put in charge to hunt down and eliminate the Rebel Alliance. As he did so, he discovered his son Luke Skywalker was being aided and trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi. In a battle with Obi-Wan at the first Death Star, Obi-Wan allowed himself to be struck down by Vader. Vader later told Luke that he was his father, and that the Emperor had ordered to turn Luke to the dark side. He took Luke to meet the Emperor in person at the second Death Star. There he and Luke engaged in yet another battle, this time the victory going to Luke. When Luke had realized that he had fought Vader out of anger, he threw down his light sabre. Then the Emperor decided that since Luke was not going to convert to the dark side, then he would kill him. The Emperor struck Luke with lighning from his hands, nearly killing him. But before he did, the goodness in Darth Vader took control again, and he picked up the emperor and threw him down to his death. But some of the Emperor's lightning caught Vader, damaging his body and short circuiting his respirator. Dying, Vader asked Luke to take off his mask so that he could look at him "with his own eyes." Before Vader died he thanked Luke for turning him back to the light side of the Force. Luke carried Vader's body to the forest moon of Endor, where he burnt them. Later, as Luke was celebrating the fall of the Empire with his friends in the Ewok village, he saw a vision of Anakin Skywalker standing beside Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. | 
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