Died at 49
male
Anakin Skywalker, also known as Darth Vader, is the central antagonist of the Star Wars original trilogy and the protagonist of the prequel trilogy. He is a legendary Force-user who served as a Jedi Knight, until he fell to the dark side and became the Sith Lord known as Darth Vader. As a child, Anakin was a slave on the desert planet of Tatooine until he was found by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who theorized that Anakin was the Chosen One destined to bring balance to the Force. Joining the Jedi Order, Anakin trained as a Padawan under Obi-Wan Kenobi, serving as a Jedi Knight of the Galactic Republic and later trained his own apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. Despite the Jedi prohibiting attachments, Anakin secretly marries Padmé Amidala. By the end of the Clone Wars, Anakin falls to the dark side and becomes Darth Vader after being manipulated by Palpatine, who was secretly the Dark Lord of the Sith. Due to being severely injured in his duel against Obi-Wan, he is rebuilt as an armored cyborg and then, for over two decades, serves Palpatine as one of the leaders of the Galactic Empire, hunting down the remaining Jedi and attempting to crush the Rebel Alliance. After killing Obi-Wan aboard the Death Star and the Battle of Yavin, he discovers the existence of his son, Luke Skywalker, and becomes determined to turn him to the dark side. But Anakin eventually redeems himself to save his son from his Sith master, fulfilling the prophecy as the Chosen One.
Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader)
Darth Vader
for Darth Vader in The Day the Clown Cried
Suggested by jesselee
Helmut Doork, a former famous circus clown now past his prime, faces struggles in a circus during World War II. After causing an accident, he is demoted but stands up for himself with his wife's encouragement. When he overhears plans to fire him, he drunkenly mocks Hitler and is arrested by the Gestapo. Imprisoned for political reasons, he boasts about his past fame in prison. Doork befriends a fellow prisoner named Johann Keltner who opposes the Nazis. When Jewish prisoners arrive, Doork tries to entertain them, leading to his beating by other inmates. Despite the risks, he continues performing for the children until SS guards intervene, resulting in Keltner's death and Doork's isolation. The commandant assigns him to assist in transporting Jewish children to Auschwitz, and Doork ends up leading them to their deaths in the gas chamber, feeling remorseful and ultimately choosing to stay with them in their final moments.
