30 Greatest Star Wars Characters

7. Yoda

When talking about Yoda, it's pretty much impossible not to mention Frank Oz. Oz both voiced and was the lead puppeteer behind the character after The Muppets' Jim Henson suggested his name to George Lucas, and it's fair to say that, without him, Yoda wouldn't have been the hit he originally was.

First introduced in Empire Strikes Back, Master Yoda is the oldest of the Jedi and the one who trains Luke after Obi-Wan's death in A New Hope. He does this reluctantly, but by the time he departs in Return of the Jedi, he does so with the knowledge that Luke is equipped to confront his father, bring balance to the Force.

Of course, Yoda hasn't had the best treatment. The decision to turn him into a CGI lightsaber-wielding swordsman in Attack of the Clones still doesn't sit right, but there's still plenty of love for Oz's puppet all the same.