20. Shmi Skywalker
As Seen In: ‘Episode I: The Phantom Menace,’ ‘Episode II: The Attack of the Clones’
Who Is She? The equivalent of St. Mary the Virgin for the most religious of ‘Star Wars’ fans, Shmi is, of course, Anakin’s poor mother. Along with her son, she is Watto’s slave in the first prequel and somehow endures Qui-Gon’s stubborn “I’m not here to free slaves” position like a champ. And like any good mother, she sacrifices her self and her own freedom in order for Anakin to go out there and be the Jedi he was meant to be (yeah, about that..), giving him some motherly advice: “you cannot stop change any more than you can stop the sun from setting.” Something he clearly forgot when he had to see her suffer and die in ‘Episode II.’
Defining Characteristic: To die, as horrible as that sounds. Her death, and the whole spiritual vibe of it, planted the first major dark seed in Anakin’s warped head.
19. General Grievous
As Seen In: ‘Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith’
What Is He? A cyborg Supreme Commander, and the biggest threat to the good guys in the first third of ‘Episode III.’ He’s behind the “kidnapping” of Palpatine in the beginning and faces Obi-Wan on more than one occasion, until his ass gets shut down. It’s a testament to the design and performance of the character that I seriously considered him to be a major character before watching ‘Revenge of the Sith’ again and remembering just how small his part is. Coughing like he’s got TB, wearing a cloak (because, why not?) and famously wielding four lightsabers, General Grievous is pretty unforgettable, though sorely underused.
Defining Characteristic: Complete cowardice beneath a frightfully intimidating mechanical surface.
18. Admiral Ozzel
As Seen In: ‘Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’
Who Is He? The last of Vader’s choked victims on this list, and he narrowly squeezes into the top 20 because his end highlights the awesomeness of Vader’s greatest weapon in the most original of ways. Having failed with the Battle of Hoth at the beginning of ‘Episode V,’ there’s really no excuse for Ozzel (portrayed by a debonair Michael Sheared) to be so surprised when Vader tunes in via viewscreen for an update. Of course, that’s why Ozzel thinks Vader tuned in. As he’s reporting how the fleet moved beyond lightspeed, Vader starts to force-choke Ozzel through the screen, simultaneously promoting Admiral Piett while the man dies in the background before Vader even finishes his sentence. Hands down, one of the greatest deaths in the saga.
Defining Characteristic: Insolence. One could argue he shares this trait with everyone who felt the end of Vader’s invisible grip, but Ozzel is especially insolent for getting more than one chance with Vader and still failing.
17. Head Tusken Raider
As Seen In: ‘Episode IV: A New Hope’
What Is He? A native of Tatooine, the place where Luke grew up with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. The head Tusken Raider leads a group of these bandit types (slang term: Sand People), who dress to blend in and don’t take kindly to strangers. They are, according to Uncle Owen, “vicious, mindless monsters” and scare the hell out of R2-D2. Though, when the Head Tusken jumps in front of Luke’s binoculars wielding his stick in the air like a crazy person, there’s no doubt he scared every kid watching ‘A New Hope’ for the first time too. Probably the adults as well. Oh, and they’re so anti-technology; they ride bison-like creatures called banthas instead of pods.
Defining Characteristics: The donkey-like sounds they call a language. Fun fact: the Tusken language was literally fashioned from donkey brays.
16. Bib Fortuna
As Seen In: ‘Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi’
Who Is He? Jabba The Hut’s right hand man, and the first of his goons we really get to meet face-to-frightening-face. The pasty white skin, freakishly blood-shot eyes, creepy dialect, and visually-arresting head structure (there’s no other “Star Wars” character whose X-Ray I’d love to see more) makes Bib Fortuna one of the most recognizable aliens in the galaxy. Same species as Oola, by the way, so here’s hoping the Twi’lek male-to-female ratio is slanted heavily towards the latter.
Defining Characteristic: Easily susceptible to Jedi mind tricks. He’s also called Bib Fortuna, and that counts for a lot.
15. Lobot
As Seen In: ‘Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’
Who Is He? Lando’s aid on Cloud City, the bald-headed man with a machine wrapped around his head. He’s too busy communicating with the central computer to spend a single syllable on any puny human or other organic problem and plays a crucial role in helping Lando regain the trust of his friends. John Hollis plays the part as stoically as he should, but faint registers of emotion can be glimpsed in his performance making it all the more memorable. The galaxy needs more Lobots.
Defining Characteristic: “Lobot’s not the chatty type, but he’s loyal. And great with computers!” Couldn’t have said it better myself, Lando.
14. Malakili, the Rancor Keeper
As Seen In: ‘Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi’
Who Is He? The man responsible for Jabba’s deadliest possession: the Rancor (that oversized beast that lives in the dungeon and has an insatiable appetite). Reason why Malikili, and his 4-5 second film appearance, comes out on top of all of Jabba’s servants is because of his completely unexpected burst of emotion when Luke manages to kill his beast. The gate closes on the Rancor’s head, and Malakili bursts into tears. It’s played for laughs, perhaps, but as the film has aged, his scene is more a heartfelt slap of humanity amidst the creature feature that is Jabba’s entire segment than anything else. Paul Brooke portrays him.
Defining Characteristic: Unforeseen attachment towards a disgusting creature. Pets, man…
13. Uncle Owen
As Seen In: ‘Episode II: The Attack of the Clones,’ ‘Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith,’ ‘Episode IV: A New Hope’
Who Is He? Owen Lars, Anakin Skywalker’s brother-in-law. His name is Owen Lars, yet it feels so wrong to call him anything but Uncle Owen, as that’s how we first meet him in ‘A New Hope.’ One of the most underrated, though short-lived supporting characters of ‘A New Hope’ trilogy, if there are those who believe the original film is a little lightweight, point them to Uncle Owen. As played by Phil Brown, Owen only has a few scenes, but conveys wells of backstory: this is a man ruled by bitterness and fear. He’s had a child foisted upon him that is not his own and he knows what happened to Anakin Skywalker going to the dark side. AND he’s holding onto one of the darkest secrets in the universe that Darth Vader is Luke’s father (and has to spin lies for all of Luke’s inquisitive adolescence). Imagine raising what you might fear is the son of Satan? Of course you’re going to be angry, cranky, fearful and controlling. And give it up for Lucas for baking in so much into the character who is hellbent on making sure his adopted boy goes nowhere near a starship or any adventures, and leads the most boring life possible. Of course, fate intervenes and Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru meet the grimmest death possible — torched to death by Storm Troopers for aiding and abetting wanted droids. And if that isn’t the greatest impetus for starting a life-changing adventure — Luke’s entire life decimated and burned to the ground — we don’t know what is. So yes, cranky and with very good reason. The less said about Joel Edgerton’s far-less-textured take on the character the better, but in his defense, the character is still young and hopeful, without the burdens that life will give him.
Defining Characteristic: A generally grouchy perspective on life.
12. Mon Mothma
As Seen In: ‘Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi’
Who Is She? An instrumental behind-the-scenes player in the creation of the Alliance, and a native of Chandrila. If that sounds like she might not be human, it’s been a long time since you’ve see ‘Return of the Jedi.’ In her one and only scene, which lasts “twenty six and a half seconds,” (something actress Caroline Blakinston likes to make a point of, in jest) Mon Mothma briefs Lando, Han, and the rest of the Alliance fighters about crucial information on the Empire’s new Death Star and the Emperor himself. But it’s the way she delivers the line “many Bothans died to bring us this information” that really makes her characters, however minor, resonate well beyond the film’s final credits.
Defining Characteristic: A knack for injecting a gamut of emotion with just seven words.
11. Salacious B. Crumb
As Seen In: ‘Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi’
Who Is He? He looks like a piece of snot with fur, but he’s in fact a Kowakian monkey-lizard and Jabba the Hut’s court jester. Those of us who grew up with ‘Star Wars’ toys will remember that Salacious B. Crumb (seriously, how much do you love that name?) came with the whole Jabba package, and none of the film’s scenes in the first half would’ve been the same had it not been for this little piece of shit sadistically cackling whenever a good guy was about to get hurt. One of the greater sidekicks from the films.
Defining Characteristic: What else could it be but that maniacal, highly contagious, laugh?