Star Wars Legend Started Out in Soap Operas

Over the years, soap operas have served as a jumping-off point for countless Hollywood careers — including that of Star Wars icon Mark Hamill. On his December 8th, 2025, appearance on “Live With Kelly & Mark,” the actor reminded fans of his sudser roots. Although it may be hard to imagine him as anyone other than Luke Skywalker, the actor starred as Kent Murray on “General Hospital back in the ’70s.

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“I have a lot in common with you,” Hamill said to Mark Consuelos, who rose to fame on “All My Children.” Though his time in the soap opera world was short-lived, Hamill has repeatedly noted that playing Kent Murray was a memorable part of his early acting career.

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Hamill Saw ‘General Hospital’ as a Learning Experience

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Of course, his “Live With Kelly & Mark” appearance is just one of many times Hamill has discussed his time on “General Hospital.” In 2023, he described his experiences on the show in a YouTube video, highlighting a few lessons the series helped him learn as a young actor. “It was a great education to learn how to find your light, how to hit your marks,” he said.

Although he also admitted at the time that he wasn’t a big sudser fan himself, the cast and crew on “General Hospital” were pleasant to work with. As he explained, he spent nine months in his recurring role as Jesse Brewer’s nephew. “I still have great memories of working there,” he said. Hamill finished his soap opera tenure in 1973, when he was still in his early twenties. Little did he know that his career-making role in Star Wars was just a few short years away.

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Being Luke Skywalker Truly Changed His Life

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Kent Murray may have helped Hamill learn the acting ropes, but there’s no question that Luke Skywalker launched the actor’s career. The role catapulted him from an actor who took on mostly small roles to an enduringly recognizable face in the film industry. Even nearly 50 years after he first stepped into Skywalker’s shoes, Hamill still has plenty of vivid memories about the role. In 2023, he sat down with CBS Sunday Morning to reminisce about that time in his life. He discussed being on a publicity tour in 1977 and recalled his shock at seeing droves of fans.

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“We landed in Chicago,” Hamill said. “I looked out, and I saw there were crowds outside. I said, ‘Hey, you guys, there must be somebody famous on this plane.'” At the time, he and the other actors didn’t realize the crowd was for them — until they stepped off the plane and saw fans dressed in homemade Star Wars costumes. Though Hamill has since played many other memorable roles across film, television, and even Broadway, there’s no doubt that Luke Skywalker remains a huge part of his Hollywood legacy.