Grand Moff Tarkin
| Wilhuff Tarkin | |
|---|---|
| Star Wars character | |
 Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars. | |
| Portrayed by |
Peter Cushing (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) Wayne Pygram (Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith) |
| Voiced by |
Keene Curtis (Star Wars radio drama) Nick Jameson (Star Wars: X-Wing) Paul Darrow (Star Wars: Empire at War) Stephen Stanton (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) |
| Fictional profile | |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Position | Death Star Commander |
| Homeworld | Eriadu |
| Affiliation |
Galactic Empire Galactic Republic (formerly) |
Grand Moff Tarkin, real name Wilhuff Tarkin and also known as Governor Tarkin, is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, portrayed by Peter Cushing and Wayne Pygram and voiced by Stephen Stanton.
The character has been called "one of the most formidable villains in Star Wars history".[1]
Depiction
Film appearances
Introduced as one of the main antagonists of the first original film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Grand Moff Tarkin is the Governor of the Imperial Outland Regions and commander of the Death Star.[2] After the Emperor dissolved the Galactic Senate, Tarkin and Darth Vader are charged with pursuing and destroying the Rebel Alliance. He threatens Princess Leia Organa with the destruction of her home planet Alderaan if she does not reveal the location of the Rebel main base of operations. When the Princess names the planet Dantooine as the base's location, he destroys Alderaan anyway. In the film's climax, Tarkin refuses to believe that the Death Star is in danger from the Rebel starfighter attack. Thereafter, Luke Skywalker destroys the Death Star with Tarkin still on board.
At the end of the last prequel film Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, a younger version of Tarkin makes a cameo appearance overseeing the original Death Star's construction alongside the Emperor and Darth Vader.
Cartoon appearance
In the television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the young version of Tarkin appears in the Republic Navy as a Captain and later an Admiral during the Clone Wars.[3]
In the third season, Captain Tarkin and Jedi Master Even Piell are ambushed and attacked by Count Dooku's Separatist forces. Prisoners to the Citadel, Tarkin and Piell are freed from captivity by a rescue team. Initially pessimistic about being in enemy territory, Tarkin puts himself at odds with Anakin Skywalker, but their respective opinions of each other improve when each realizes that they are mutual acquaintances of with the Supreme Chancellor. During a skirmish, Tarkin fights with Osi Sobeck and attempts to execute him but fails when the Citadel's sadistic caretaker swiftly retaliates and nearly kills Tarkin. However, Tarkin is rescued just in time by Ahsoka Tano.
In the fifth season, Admiral Tarkin appears resembling his original character. After the funeral for the Jedi Temple's bombing victims, Tarkin assumes that Ahsoka Tano is accused perpetrator Letta Turmond's killer and attempts to have the Padawan arrested. After Ahsoka is recaptured and tried before a jury of senators, Tarkin heads the prosecution while Padmé Amidala heads the defense. Despite Amidala's impressive defense, Tarkin casts doubt by mentioning that Tano had been seen with Asajj Ventress. After Tarkin and Amidala's arguments conclude and the jury reaches a verdict that the Supreme Chancellor is about to read, Anakin Skywalker arrives with Dark Jedi Barriss Offee, the real mastermind of the crimes.
Expanded Universe
In the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Tarkin appears in Darth Maul: Saboteur and Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader. West End Games' roleplaying material describes the "Tarkin Doctrine", which emphasizes ruling "through the fear of force, rather than force itself". He is also mentioned during the Legacy of the Force novel series as having been present on Zonama Sekot with Anakin Skywalker. Apparently, Tarkin also left a wife and a mistress behind. In the comics series Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command, Tarkin is seen telling Vader of a missing convoy of Imperial craft and adds that his own son was in command of the convoy and is also missing.
Production
Tarkin's character was originally conceived as a holy man from Aquilae.[4]
Peter Cushing found Tarkin's boots, furnished by the wardrobe department, to be very uncomfortable. George Lucas agreed to limit shots where Cushing's feet would be visible, allowing him to wear his own slippers.[5][6][7][8]
Wayne Pygram was hired and was able to achieve the likeness of a young version of Tarkin through the use of prosthetic makeup.[9]
Voice actor Stephen Stanton researched Cushing's performances and then tried to imitate what Cushing might have sounded like in his mid-thirties and soften to give a level of humanity.[10]
References
- ↑ Gilchrist, Todd (8 August 2006). "Star Wars Speeches: Grand Moff Tarkin". IGN.
- ↑ "Peter Cushing in "Star Wars"". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 13 August 1976. p. 29.
- ↑ Blauvelt, Christian (17 February 2011). "Star Wars - The Clone Wars: Grand Moff Tarkin makes his debut!". EW.com.
- ↑ "Tarkin, Grand Moff". Databank. Lucasfilm. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
- ↑ Joseph Farrell (2003). The Giza Death Star Deployed. Adventures Unlimited Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-931882-19-4.
- ↑ Mark Clark (2004). "Peter Cushing". Smirk, Sneer and Scream. McFarland. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-7864-1932-6.
- ↑ Adam Charles Roberts (2000). "The History of Science Fiction". Science Fiction. Routledge. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-415-19205-7.
- ↑ Brad Duke (2005). Harrison Ford: The Films. McFarland. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-7864-2016-2.
- ↑ Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith commentary track
- ↑ "Look Who's Tarkin: Stephen Stanton". StarWars.com Retrieved March 4, 2011.
External links
- Grand Moff Tarkin in the Official StarWars.com Encyclopedia
- Grand Moff Tarkin at the Internet Movie Database
- Wilhuff Tarkin on Wookieepedia: a Star Wars wiki
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