The Star Wars franchise has witnessed some incredibly tragic deaths, though some hit harder than others. In the movies, live-action shows, and in Star Wars animation, the galaxy’s heroes have sacrificed their lives and their happiness time and again to ensure the safety of their people and their families and friends. While their legacies will always live on in Star Wars storytelling and in the other characters, some deaths were sadder than others; some characters had only just found love, others never got to see the Empire defeated despite their integral roles in the Rebellion, while a few gave up everything they had for those they cared about the most.
While the deaths of characters like Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ben Solo were undeniably sad and meaningful, their deaths were always going to happen. Anakin and Ben’s stories shared too many parallels, and so Ben was always destined to die after a final act of redemption, while Obi-Wan Kenobi was always going to sacrifice himself to save Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Yoda was hundreds of years old, lived a long life, and passed on all he knew to the next generation, and so went peacefully in his sleep. They made their choices long ago. While some Star Wars deaths were fated, others will always make one wonder: what if?
10 Luke Skywalker
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
No one expected Luke Skywalker to die in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. He was, and always will be, Star Wars’ primary hero, an icon in the galaxy and the real world. His death changed the future of the Jedi forever, his sister was left by herself to pick up the pieces, and he died on his own on a distant planet. And yet, despite the tragedy behind Luke Skywalker’s death, it was also incredibly meaningful. His death set his nephew on a course for redemption, it allowed Rey Skywalker to find her true strength, and he found peace in connecting with the Force once more, more powerfully than he ever had before.
9 Qui-Gon Jinn
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
The death of Gui-Gon Jinn changed the fate of the galaxy forever. Qui-Gon is the one who brought Anakin to the Jedi Temple – he was going to teach him to become a great Jedi and become the father figure that Anakin never had but so desperately needed. When Qui-Gon was killed by Darth Maul, both Anakin’s and Obi-Wan’s lives were forever changed. Anakin became Obi-Wan’s Padawan though Obi-Wan himself was still too young, and their eventual bond as brothers became the downfall of their partnership. What might have happened if Qui-Gon hadn’t died? Would Palpatine have succeeded in manipulating Anakin? It’s impossible to know.
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8 Maarva Andor
Andor Season 1, Episode 11
Maarva Carassi Andor may have had a relatively small role in Andor, but her death made a big impact. Above all, Maarva loved her son and wanted to see the Empire burn. She knew Cassian had what it took to become a great, fearsome Rebel leader, and he learned everything he knew from her. Her death and her speech inspired the people of Ferrix to fight back against the Empire’s oppression, too. Everything that Maarva had ever wanted came true – and yet she never lived to see the result. Maarva’s death may have been intimate and quiet, but the impact it had on the people of Ferrix, her son, and her trusty droid B2EMO will never be forgotten.
7 Tech
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2, Episode 16
Tech’s tragic sacrifice came out of nowhere. In Star Wars: The Bad Batch’s season 2 finale, Clone Force 99 is trying to escape the Empire’s clutches on Eriadu, Governor Tarkin’s homeworld. Though their original mission was supposed to be an easy one – planting a tracker on an Imperial ship – their safety was soon compromised by Saw Gerrera, who decided to blow up the Imperial facilities. While Clone Force 99 was trying to get away, the mechanism of the rail car they were in was damaged by the explosion, and Tech made a quick and noble decision to sacrifice himself so that the rest of his crew could get to safety. Tech’s untimely death hit hard not only because of the element of surprise, but also because Tech was just starting to grow in his relationships with other characters.
6 Han Solo
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Another one of Star Wars’ original heroes died a tragic death when Han Solo was killed in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Though Harrison Ford had always spoken of his desire to have Han killed off in the story, no one expected his death to involve his son. Kylo Ren killed Han Solo in a desperate attempt to fully align himself with the dark side, but it ripped his soul further apart. While Han clearly would have done anything for his son, his death became tragic because it didn’t bring either character the closure they wanted. It wasn’t until Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker that the memory of Han finally allowed Ben to open himself up again.
5 Fives
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6, Episode 4
Many clone troopers have died in Star Wars. They were, after all, created to be expendable. But Star Wars: The Clone Wars proved to audiences and the Jedi that each clone had distinct personalities, hopes, moral codes, and relationships, making the deaths of these loyal soldiers all the sadder. None, however, was sadder than the death of ARC Trooper Fives. Fives came so incredibly close to uncovering the secret of Order 66, which would have prevented the deaths of thousands of Jedi and the Empire’s rise to power. Instead, Palpatine won, no one believed him, and he died in the arms of his comrade, knowing that his friends were destined to lose their free will forever.
4 Rogue One Cast
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Aside from Cassian Andor, none of the Rogue One crew set out to become Rebels, and yet they became some of the most important Rebels the galaxy has ever known. They sacrificed their lives to steal the Death Star’s plans, and all their potential was wiped out in the process. Bodhi never got to become a Rebel pilot, Cassian and Jyn never got to explore their feelings for one another, and none of them ever got to see the Death Star, and the Empire, by extension, destroyed. Above all, Rogue One is a story of hope and bravery in the face of extreme adversity, and the Rogue One crew had that bravery in spades.
3 Kanan Jarrus
Star Wars Rebels Season 4, Episode 10
So many Jedi have died in the Star Wars franchise. The few remaining Order 66 survivors were forced to retreat into the shadows, hiding their true selves. Kanan Jarrus was one such survivor, though he didn’t stay hidden in the shadows for long. With the help of his new family, including Rebel pilot Hera Syndulla and his Padawan, Ezra Bridger, Kanan found his purpose again. He found love, companionship, and friendship, and it was all ripped away from him when he sacrificed himself to save Hera, Ezra, and the Mandalorian Sabine Wren from a fuel tank explosion. Not only was Kanan an integral member of the Rebellion, but he never got to explore his relationship with Hera, and he never even knew that he had a son – Jacen Syndulla.
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2 Leia Organa
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Leia Organa’s death was made all the more tragic by Carrie Fisher’s untimely death, too. Her role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was diminished, but no less impactful. In her final moments, Leia used the last of her strength to reach out to her son through the Force, letting him know that she loved him truly – and he finally became Ben Solo again. And yet, though Leia succeeded in bringing her son back from darkness, he died a mere few hours later, sacrificing himself to save Rey’s life. She would have wanted a future for him, a future that he never got to have. Leia gave up being a Jedi for her son because she believed it would protect him, but that sacrifice wasn’t enough to save him in the end.
1 Padmé Amidala
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Padmé Amidala might just be the most tragic character in all of Star Wars. She lost everything in a handful of days. The love of her life turned to darkness before her very eyes and even physically harmed her, and while her children were born in good health, she never got to hold them and see them grow to become the galaxy’s greatest heroes. Her heart was broken beyond repair, and she died during one of the most turbulent times in the galaxy’s history, at the center of the storm. Though the “medical” reason for Padmé’s death is still debatable, Padmé’s fate in Star Wars was undeniably heartbreaking.
