Star Wars legend Mark Hamill has received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It has been nearly 40 years since he began his journey portraying Luke Skywalker and his battle between the Empire and the Dark Side.
Hamill was surrounded by fellow Star Wars legends including Director George Lucas, co-star Harrison Ford, his trusty sidekick R2-D2 and a handful of Stormtroopers to provide security.
Mark Hamill took the stage with the same gusto he shows at all of his appearances, waving to fans who lined the streets.
Star Wars icon left speechless
Hamill says there is no way to describe his joy and thankfulness for the award and even saying he hasn’t been this speechless since the “Force Awakens,” a joke about his short and silent appearance on the film. He said he couldn't say it was a dream come true and questioned whether he was truly worthy of this honor.
Mark Hamill does not let the fame and fortune go to his head. He spends time with several charities including Force for Change and the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
He continually interacts with his Twitter followers, making jokes and dropping fake clues while he films his latest Star Wars film. Hamill even took to Twitter, to encourage a seven-year-old girl who was afraid to wear a Star Wars shirt to school, saying the Force is always strong with females.
While many know him for his role as the Jedi master, he has become popular for his animated roles including the Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series" and several other Batman series. Hamill thanked George Lucas, saying he wouldn’t be here without him.
George Lucas applauded Hamill and said he was proud of him for getting his star. Lucas said Hamill was always enthusiastic about what he was doing and that’s what he wanted for the person who would play Luke Skywalker.
Star Wars hero Harrison Ford pays tribute
Harrison Ford paid tribute to Carrie Fisher, who passed away in 2016, during his speech at the ceremony. Ford said he was sorry that the other member of their trio could not be there to celebrate. Hamill responded saying he could feel Fisher’s presence. Harrison Ford received his star in 2003.
In honor of Hamill’s latest achievement, Disney is celebrating with its own #JediDay. The force behind Star Wars is encouraging fans to combine the hashtag with "The Last Jedi," to honor Mark’s return in "The Last Jedi." The award comes as the studio prepares for the release of "The Last Jedi" on Digital March 13 and Blu-ray March 27. Hamill said looking back it’s been one wild ride, from the big screen to the small screen.