Mark Interviews 2000+

Mark Hamill: Luke Skywalker from 'STAR WARS', the Joker from 'Batman: The Animated Series'

Going into STAR WARS, did you have any idea there would be so many toys?

I read the script and I said, "This thing reads like a toy box!" I remember asking George if I could get on a comp list, and he said, "Yeah." And at that time I was thinking it'd just be a T-shirt, a record album and a poster.

What became of all that swag?

My first child was born during Empire Strikes Back, and he's a huge uberfan, and he now takes possession of all these things. I don't have an archive of all these original toys like you might think. For all potential burglars out there, please... move on!

So your son is a big toy fan?

His first word was 'Kenner'. It's kind of like a joke, but it's true. Now he's looking in price guides and asking me, "Why'd you let me give the Princess Leia doll a Sinéad O'Connor haircut? It's worth $800 mint in the box!"

So how close was your Simpsons appearance to your real life?

When I first read the Simpsons script I thought, "Wait a second! I've been on BROADWAY, I've never done dinner theater!" And my wife was all, "Get over yourself. It's the Simpsons!" The idea of me appearing in the Luke costume for money is something I wouldn't do if I were destitute.

Toyfare Magazine, 2003