Sebastian Shaw, born on May 29, 1905, and passing away on December 23, 1994, was a multifaceted English talent. His career spanned across various artistic mediums including the stage, film, television, and radio, where he excelled as an actor. Furthermore, he showcased his creativity as a director, novelist, playwright, and poet. Throughout his impressive 65 years in the industry, Shaw participated in over 40 film and TV productions, but he gained the most recognition from his numerous performances on stage. In his early years, he considered himself a "rotten actor," but Sebastian believed his acting abilities improved after his time serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II. Shaw garnered significant acclaim for his innovative and bold interpretations of roles in William Shakespeare's plays. In 1975, he also penned a novel titled The Christening.
A particularly memorable role for Shaw was his brief, yet significant, appearance in Return of the Jedi. He portrayed a redeemed Anakin Skywalker in the poignant moment when Luke Skywalker removes the mask of his dying father aboard the Death Star II. Due to the intense secrecy imposed by Star Wars creator George Lucas, Shaw was kept in the dark about the specifics of his role until he was officially cast. He was also prohibited from discussing it with anyone, including his close friends and family, until the movie was released in theaters. Sebastian Shaw passed away from natural causes in 1994 at the age of 89. A decade later, in the 2004 DVD re-release of Return of the Jedi, his image as a Force ghost in the film's final scene was replaced by that of prequel actor Hayden Christensen.
Sebastian Lewis Shaw entered the world on May 29, 1905, in Holt, Norfolk, England. His father, Dr. Geoffrey Shaw, held the position of music master at Gresham's School, a North Norfolk independent coeducational boarding school, where Sebastian Shaw began his formal education.
Sebastian Shaw was selected in 1982 for the brief but important role of Anakin Skywalker in Return of the Jedi, the concluding film of the original Star Wars trilogy. While David Prowse physically portrayed Darth Vader in costume and James Earl Jones provided the character's voice, as they had in the previous two films, Shaw was cast for a single scene with Mark Hamill. This scene depicted the moment on the Death Star when Luke Skywalker removes the mask of his dying father. Given the scene's pivotal role as the film's emotional high point, the casting team sought an actor with considerable experience. At the time he was considered for the film, Shaw was performing in Shakespearean plays such as Charles VI in Henry V and First Gravedigger in Hamlet at London's Barbican Centre. Shaw had seen the first two Star Wars films and enjoyed them, particularly for their visual effects. In an interview with science-fiction film magazine Starlog, he called these effects "brilliant techniques which, in many ways, were revolutionary, something quite new."
Shaw went through an audition for the Return of the Jedi role. However, because of the production's need for secrecy, he was not allowed to view his portion of the script until he had committed to the role and promised to keep all film details confidential. His contract stated that he was barred from revealing his role to even his closest family and friends. When asked about the part by loved ones, Shaw told Starlog that he would respond, "I'm sorry, I'm not at liberty to tell you." After word of his casting got out, Shaw received numerous press requests for information about his role in the movie. However, he waited until George Lucas gave him permission following the film's 1983 theatrical debut to discuss his involvement. Upon arriving on set for filming, Shaw encountered his friend Ian McDiarmid, the actor who played Emperor Palpatine, but Shaw did not disclose any details about his role. When McDiarmid inquired about his presence, Shaw simply replied, "I don't know, dear boy, I think it's something to do with science-fiction." McDiarmid later remarked, "That was Sebastian. The Star Wars saga had passed him blissfully by."
Shaw's scene in Return of the Jedi was completed in a single day of filming at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England. His presence on set was kept secret from all but a select few members of the cast and crew. Richard Marquand directed the scene, while George Lucas remained on set throughout the entire shoot. Shaw found the mask costume to be physically difficult to wear during his scene. He struggled to breathe through the two small holes in the quarter-inch thick Darth Vader mask that covered his entire face and head. His head was shaved, white makeup was applied to his face, black makeup was applied around his eyes, and fake burn scars were applied to his head and cheeks. Shaw told Starlog that the screenplay by Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan was so well-written that they did not change the dialogue at all. The scene was filmed in just a few takes, although some of Mark Hamill's close-ups required multiple takes because Shaw said "he was so terribly anxious to get it right." Shaw said the young actor was enjoyable to work with and appreciative of Shaw's experience.
The unmasking scene lasts for two minutes and seven seconds and includes twenty-four words of dialogue spoken by Shaw. George Lucas personally directed Shaw for his appearance in the film's final scene, where he appears as a Force ghost of Anakin Skywalker, dressed in brown and white robes, with his previous burns and injuries completely healed. The footage was shot against a green screen, and the characters of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, with whom Anakin exchanges glances and smiles, were added later. Shaw was unaware of the footage's purpose and believed it was for publicity rather than for the film itself. When directing the scene, Lucas simply advised the actor, "Look happy, smile."
Shaw received more fan mail and autograph requests from Return of the Jedi than he had for any other role in his career. He noted that the majority of letters came from boys aged twelve to fourteen, but he also received correspondence from older individuals who were unexpectedly moved by the film. Shaw later expressed his enjoyment of his experience filming for Return of the Jedi and was particularly surprised that an action figure of him was produced based on the film.
Sebastian Shaw passed away due to natural causes on December 23, 1994, at the age of 89 in Brighton, East Sussex, England. A funeral service took place on February 15, 1995, at St Paul's, Covent Garden, also known as The Actors' Church, in Covent Garden, London, due to its historical connection to the theatre community. Actors Ian Richardson and Ben Kingsley recited passages from William Shakespeare; stage actress Estelle Kohler read The Ways of Love by Victorian poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning; actress Sheila Allen read Life by Welsh poet George Herbert; and actor Kenneth Branagh read from the works of Canon Henry Scott Holland. One of Shaw's own poems, Gemini, was also recited. Baritone Stephen Varcoe sang Wie bist du meine Konigin by Johannes Brahms, accompanied by Graham Johnson on the piano, and guitarist Martin Best performed and sang his composition of Ariel's Songs from The Tempest. Shaw's survivors included his partner Joan Ingpen, daughter Drusilla MacLeod, sisters Susan Bonner-Morgan and Penelope Harness, and sister-in-law Olga Young.
The 2004 DVD release of Return of the Jedi saw several alterations and modifications to scenes featuring Sebastian Shaw. The unmasking scene with Mark Hamill remained largely unchanged, but Shaw's eyebrows were digitally removed to align with Anakin Skywalker's burned appearance in the 2005 prequel, Revenge of the Sith. Shaw's eyes were also digitally altered to resemble those of Hayden Christensen, who portrayed Anakin in the prequel films. The most significant change, however, was the replacement of Shaw's image with Christensen's during his appearance as a Force ghost in the final scene of Return of the Jedi. This effort to connect the prequel and original trilogies was met with criticism and became one of the least popular changes in the Star Wars re-releases. However, some defended the decision. Author and pop culture expert Will Brooker noted that George Lucas "totally Stalinized" Shaw by removing him from the scene, but he also argued against the notion that Luke Skywalker would not recognize the younger Anakin, explaining that his connection to the Force enabled him to do so. Film reviewer Roger Ebert described the change as "actually a little poetic" because it signified Anakin's unification with the Force before his transformation into Darth Vader.
- " Star News " — Star Wars Insider 28
- " Dark Father " — Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 11
- " Use the Force: Darth Vader Trivia Quiz " — Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 11
- " Something Wicked This Way Comes " — Star Wars Insider 37
- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Scrapbook
- Star Wars: The Complete Vader
- Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – The Official Collector's Edition