Sam Witwer

The story goes that when Amy Beth Christenson created the initial concept art for Galen Marek, it bore a striking resemblance to Sam Witwer. Recognizing Witwer from Battlestar Galactica, the vice president at the time pointed out the similarity, which led to Witwer being asked to audition for the role.

Witwer, who was acquainted with LucasArts sound director David W. Collins, was eager to compete for the part. His audition featured a scene where Marek, also known as The Apprentice, was using telekinesis to assemble a lightsaber inside a meditation chamber. Witwer drew upon his deep knowledge of Star Wars lore and Marek's background to portray the scene. He played the character as someone whose primary challenge was not combat, but rather finding inner peace to focus his abilities, contorting his face as if struggling to recall something. Witwer secured the role during those first auditions.

Following this, he became the definitive model for the main character's voice and physical appearance in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Motion capture technology was used to create his likeness for the game, capturing his appearance and a wide range of facial expressions. HD cameras recorded Witwer's performance, along with those of all the other actors involved in the game. During the game's production, Witwer only knew his character by the codename "Starkiller." Witwer also lent his voice to Galen Marek (referred to only as "The Apprentice") in Soulcalibur IV. In the sequel, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, Witwer reprised his role as Starkiller. He once again provided both his voice and likeness to the main character. In Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Witwer also voiced Palpatine, and in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, he provided the voice and likeness for both the imperfect genetic replicas and the Dark Apprentice. Subsequently, Witwer joined the cast of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, providing the voices for the characters of the Son and Maul.

Witwer then succeeded Tim Curry as the voice of Palpatine in the second season of Star Wars Rebels, in addition to voicing W1-LE and an Imperial Technician.

In Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, Witwer voiced a variety of characters, including multiple stormtroopers, an announcer, and a First Order officer.

Witwer has expressed his desire to participate in the live-action TV series, presumably to reprise his role as Galen Marek.

On May 27, 2020, it was revealed on StarWars.com and The Star Wars Show that Witwer would be the voice of the dark side in the Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge web game series.

• Meet the Stars of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
• " "You're Hired" to be Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice! " — Star Wars Insider 97
• " Striking Back! " — Star Wars Insider 118
• " Back From the Depths! " — Star Wars Insider 132
• Star Wars Insider: Sam Witwer as Darth Maul on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars Rebels and More at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 – Updated! on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars in 100 Scenes
• From "Blast that X-Wing!" to "Traitor!": The voices of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on StarWars.com (backup link)
• " Zabrak Again! " — Star Wars Insider 168
• "It Was Our Responsibility to Make a Character with Intellect and a Heart": Sam Witwer on the Rise and Fall of Darth Maul on StarWars.com (backup link)
• The Star Wars Show: Sam Witwer on Voicing Maul and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge News! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge Challenge to Debut June 3 on Star Wars Kids on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Stories of Light and Dark Audiobook Cast Revealed – Exclusive on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Empire at 40 | From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back Audiobook Cast Revealed – Exclusive on StarWars.com (backup link)
• " Sam Witwer Unleashed! The Voice of Maul " — Star Wars Insider 199
• As Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Comes to Nintendo Switch, Sam Witwer Looks Back on StarWars.com (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars The Obi-Wan Cast Chat About Obi-Wan, Reva's Intentions Are Revealed, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• Bucket's List: "Rebuilding the Resistance" – Star Wars Resistance on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (January 20, 2020) (content now obsolete; backup link)
• D23 2024: New Official Trailer for LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Revealed on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Behind the Bricks: Our Favorite Easter Eggs from LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy on StarWars.com (backup link)
• " Diana Lee Inosanto " — Star Wars Insider 228
• Celebrity Guests Confirmed for Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 - Updated on StarWars.com (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars Dispatch: Ahsoka is Heading to Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)

• Sam Witwer ( @samwitwer ) on Twitter (backup link (samwitwer) not verified!)
• Sam Witwer on Wikipedia
• Sam Witwer at the Internet Movie Database
• Samuel Witwer at the Battlestar Wiki