30 Greatest Star Wars Characters

4. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Whether he's being played by Sir Alec Guinness or Ewan McGregor, one thing is absolutely clear: Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the greatest Star Wars characters of all time.

A Jedi Knight who fought in the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan plays a vital role in the saga both in life and in death. He's there for the reawakening of the Sith, trains Anakin Skywalker before his turn to evil, and ensures the safety of Luke while in exile on Tatooine. It is his death that sets Luke on the path to becoming a Jedi, much like his father before him, which seeds the downfall of the Empire and brings about peace and prosperity to the galaxy - at least for a short amount of time.

Perhaps surprisingly, it isn't the Original Trilogy that cemented the character as a firm fan-favourite. That honour instead belongs to Ewan McGregor, whose performance as Obi-Wan is frequently hailed as the best thing about the Prequel Trilogy, with the actor combining charm, bravery and some very flashy lightsaber moves to impart what many consider to be the defining image of the character.

Further to that, various Expanded Universe media have all helped cement Kenobi as among the most pivotal heroes in the Star Wars canon, with turns in novels, comics and the Clone Wars animated series all highlights.