Mark Interviews 2000+

Mark Hamill

The former Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill, is obviously enjoying himself, tweaking the STAR WARS mythology in the new film Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back.

Basic decency prevents the disclosure of the name of Hamill's dastardly character in the hilariously vile new Kevin Smith comedy. He plays an insane villain in a movie-within-a-movie, based on the exploits of Jay and Silent Bob's superhero alter egos, Blunt Man and Chronic. It may be a brief scene, but the 50-year-old actor does get to battle Silent Bob with laser sabers. For New Jersey filmmaker Smith, the scene is a dream come true, since he is a known STAR WARS obsessive. Meanwhile, Hamill keeps busy with plenty of work in animated series like Batman and The Powerpuff Girls. In fact, he's been doing cartoon voiceovers since the inception of his career.

Mark, you're back in costume in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. But isn't this your most ludicrous outfit, yet?

Isn't it absurd? Isn't it hard enough to pull off a life of crime without pulling on stretch leotards and a multicolor fright wig and a cape? It's so impractical!

Have you ever been hurt while in costume?

When I played the Trickster in The Flash, I had a terrible mishap. A fan grabbed me and I went flying. I had visions of Isadora Duncan choking. The cape got tangled around the fan. And I was always getting out of the Trickster mobile and slamming the cape in the door. The outtakes alone were hysterical.

Kevin Smith persuaded you to swing that lightsabre one more time.

Any stunt scenes are a huge challenge. It's just that now my attitude has changed. In STAR WARS, I insisted on doing my stunts. Now, I want a stuntman. But we rehearsed that scene three weeks and shot it in three days. It was pretty elaborate for a movie of this kind.

STAR WARS inspired a whole generation of young filmmakers. Have any hired you?

Kevin Smith is the only admitted fan that has hired me. Don't you think some of these guys that are running studios could hire me? Some of these guys probably had my action figures.

Nearly every Kevin Smith movie refers to STAR WARS in some way.

Yeah, and I'm a big fan of his, too. That Clerks cartoon he did for ABC was wonderful. Now, there's something we have in common - we were both mistreated by ABC. I did a series called Texas Wheelers that was cancelled after four episodes. We already filmed 13 episodes. Those weird things happen.

Now you're doing many cartoons.

I love doing animation. I pinch myself when I get into the car to go over to Cartoon Network. It's wonderful. I love it. I always loved radio. I always loved comedy albums as a child. And for me, this is like that. I get to work with these incredibly gifted mimics. There are disproportionate numbers of really nice people in animation. As the stakes get higher, people get really stressed out making movies.

You do all these funny voices, but we haven't seen that on the screen.

My friends ask why I don't do more comedy. I've used dialects on stage. In animation, I can play young people, old people, and foreign people without anybody judging how you appear.

You're also a writer, right?

I just sold a story to The Simpsons for their Halloween special. I'm writing and directing an episode of Pamela Anderson's V.I.P.. If someone asks me to appear in a TV show, I have a standard answer, which is, 'OK, if you'll let me write and direct one.' That's a great way to never hear from any of these people ever again. But this time, they did it.

You began your career with a high-profile film, but now, you seem to seek projects in the margins.

Yeah, I do computer games, comic books, cartoons. But secretly, I'm ecstatic. The upside of not being on the A-list is that there's so much I don't have to do. I don't have to wear a tuxedo and watch clips and salute and ride in a car. I'm the biggest homebody. And that's what's made my marriage work. I love cooking for the kids, doing board games. I have a nice little house and pool. I'm really lucky.

Final question: STAR WARS, blessing or curse?

Everything in life is a mixture of both. But I see it as a blessing. That movie made everyone my friend.

Contax Guide, Otocber 11, 2001