Key dates in Star Wars: April

April

1 April

Matt Lanter is born (1983)
Matt Lanter was born today in 1983 in Massillon, Ohio, USA. Matt is a successful actor across film & TV. Since 2008 he has been the 'official' voice for Anakin Skywalker, having voiced the Jedi in The Clone Wars, Rebels & Forces of Destiny.

Other events on this day...
David Oyelowo is born (1976)

2 April

Sir Alec Guinness is born (1914)
Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE was born today in 1914 in Maida Vale, London, England. After an early career on stage, Sir Alec moved to the silver screen with a brief WW2 Royal Navy interlude. Between 1977-83 Sir Alec played Old Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi.

Other events on this day...
Pedro Pascal is born (1975)

3 April

Ben Mendelsohn is born (1969)
In Melbourne, Australia, today in 1969, Ben Mendelsohn was born. His first acting role was in 1984 and since then he has appeared in some very high profile movies including Ready Player One & Captain Marvel. In 2016 he played Krennic in Rogue One.

4 April

Rogue One released on disc (2017)
Today in 2017 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was released on DVD/BluRay and for On Demand viewing. Its set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, focusing on the formation of the Rebel Alliance and their efforts to steal the Death Star' plans.

5 April

Tasia Valenza is born (1967)
Tasia Valenza was born today in New York, USA in 1967. Tasia is an actress/voice actress, appearing in TV shows & providing voices in video games including Batman: Arkham Asylum. She provided the voice for Shaak-Ti in The Clone Wars.

6 April

Billy Dee Williams is born (1937)
In New York, US, today in 1937, William December 'Billy Dee' Williams Jr was born. Initially an artist (he still is) Billy turned to acting to fund art supplies. He played Lando Calrissian in Star Wars Episode V, returning for Episodes VI & IX.

Other events on this day...
John Ratzenberger is born (1947)

7 April

Ismael Cruz Cordova is born (1987)
Today in 1987, in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, Ismael Cruz Córdova was born. Ismael is a TV, stage & film actor who, in 2006, moved to New York City where he studied at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. In 2019 he portrayed Qin in The Mandalorian.

8 April

Katee Sackhoff is born (1980)
Katee Sackoff was born today in 1980 in Portland, Oregon, US. Well regarded in sc-fi, Katee played Starbuck in the 2004-09 Battlestar Galactica TV show & voices Death Watch lieutenant Bo-Katan in The Clone Wars seasons 4, 5 & 7 & Rebels.

Other events on this day...
Femi Taylor is born (1961)

9 April

Didj Star Wars: Jedi Trials is released (2009)
Today in 2009, Star Wars: Jedi Trials was released on the LeapFrog Didj console. The educational game is set during the clone wars era and story in the game is based upon the heroes, villains and settings in The Clone Wars animated TV series.

10 April

Daisey Ridley is born (1992)
Today in Westminster, London, England, in 1992, Daisy Ridley was born. As has been the case with other heroes in Star Wars, Daisy was relatively unknown as an actress before being cast as Rey in the Saga, where she played the powerful Force user.

Other events on this day...
Max von Sydow is born (1929)

11 April

Celebration Chicago began (2019)
Today in 2019 Celebration Chicago began in McCormick Place in Chicago USA. This was the thirteenth Celebration event, was hosted by Warwick Davis, Amy Ratcliffe and David Collins, and was held over five days.

12 April

Marvel Comics Star Wars Issue #1 released (1977)
Issue #1 of Star Wars was released for sale today in 1977 despite the cover showing July. Marvel published the series from 1977-1986, lasting 107 issues and three Annuals and the series was one of the industry's top selling titles in 1979 & 1980.

13 April

Katie Lucas is born (1988)
Today in 1988 Katie Lucas was born in the USA. Katie is the adopted daughter of George Lucas & was the writer on a number of episodes of The Clone Wars including the "Nightsisters" trilogy, "Darth Maul Returns" arc & "Order 66 Genesis" arc.

14 April

Sarah Michelle Gellar is born (1977)
'Today in 1977 in Long Island, New York, USA, Sarah Michelle Prinze (née Gellar) was born. Sarah is perhaps best known as Buffy Summers on the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003). She voiced Seventh Sister in Season 2 of Rebels.

15 April

Tom Kane is born (1962)
In Overland Park, Kansas, US, today in 1962, Tom Kane was born. Tom is a voice actor, known for his work in animation, film, and video games. He has appeared in Star Wars productions across film, TV and games, often voicing Yoda, C-3P0 and Ackbar.

16 April

Gina Carano is born (1982)
Gina Carano was born today in 1982, in Dallas, Texas, USA. Gina is an actress, television personality, fitness model and a former mixed martial artist. She plays Carasynthia Dune, a character in the Disneyplus TV show The Mandalorian.

Christopher Patrick Nolan is born (1971)
Today in 1971, in Croydon, Surrey, England, Christopher Patrick Nolan was born. Chris is a film, TV & theatre actor with a broad portfolio of parts. In 2016, he portrayed the Alderaanian consular security guard Toshma Jefkin in Rogue One.

17 April

Olivia Hussey is born (1951)
Today in 1951, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Olivia Hussey was born. Moving to the UK at age 7, Olivia is a star of stage & screen. She has provided voices for a few Star Wars games, including Kasan Moor in Star Wars: Rogue Squadron on N64

18 April

David Tennant is born 1971
Today in 1971, in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, David Tennant was born. David is a prolific actor on stage, TV & film. Perhaps best known as the 10th Doctor Who, David provided the voice for Huyang, who trained Jedi in the Clone Wars in 2012.

19 April

Hayden Christensen is born (1981)
Hayden Christensen was born today in 1981 in Vancouver, Canada. His career began on Canadian TV at 13 years old & from 2002 provided the Skywalker Saga movie presence for Anakin Skywalker, appearing in Ep 2&3 with his voice featuring in Ep 7&9.

Other events on this day...
Tim Curry is born (1946)

20 April

Andy Serkis is born (1964)
Today in 1964, in Ruislip Manor, Middlesex, England, Andy Serkis was born. Best known for motion capture acting, animation & voicework including Gollum in Lord of the Rings, Andy played Supreme Leader Snoke in Ep7&8 of the Skywalker Saga.

Other events on this day...
George Takei is born (1937)

21 April

Star Wars Celebration III began (2005)
Today in 2005, Star Wars Celebration III began at the Indiana Convention Center. This was the same location as the 2002 Celebration II and was to celebrate the release of what was then thought to be the final film in the saga, Revenge of the Sith.

22 April

Chuck Wendig is born (1976)
In New Hope, Pennsylvania, USA, today in 1976, Chuck Wendig was born. Chuck is an author / comic book writer / screenwriter / blogger. He wrote Star Wars: Aftermath (2015), followed by Aftermath: Life Debt (2016) & Aftermath: Empire's End (2017).

23 April

Jaime King is born (1979)
Today in 1979, in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, Jaime King was born. The actress and model who has appeared in TV and film, including the Star Wars homage Fanboys. Jaime provides the voice of Aurra Sing in The Clone Wars along with other characters.

24 April

Claire Davenport is born (1933)
Today in 1933, in Sale, Great Manchester, England, Claire Davenport was born. The actress was often cast in character roles which highlighted her large physique. In 1983 she played Yarna d'al' Gargan in Return of the Jedi.

25 April

Gina Torres is born (1969)
Gina Torres was born today in 1969 in manhatten, New York, USA. Gina has appeared across a wide range of TV shows and movies including Serenity (and spinoff Firefly), Angel, Suits and Xena. In Rebels she voiced Ketsu Onyo in seasons 2 & 4.

26 April

Giancarlo Esposito is born (1958)
Italian-American actor Giancarlo Esposito was born today in 1958, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Giancarlo has been acting since he was 8, appearing on stage, TV & film. in 2019 he played Gideon in the Disney+ live-action TV series The Mandalorian.

Other events on this day...
Andy Secombe is born (1953)

27 April

John Cygan is born (1953)
Today in 1953, in New York, USA, John Cygan was born. John was an actor/voice artist who provided a wealth of voices for Star Wars products including Dash Rendar in Shadows of the Empire and Canderous Ordo in Knights of the Old Republic I and II.

28 April

Lords of the Sith published (2015)
The canon novel, Lords of the Sith was published today in 2015. Written by Paul Kemp, with a cover illustration by Aaron McBride & published by Del Rey Books, the novel is set 5 years into the Emperor's reign, & sees Palpatine & Vader ambushed.

29 April

Irvin Kershner is born (1923)
Today in 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, the director & producer for film/TV, Irvin Kershner was born. After initially being reluctant, and refusing, the job, he directed The Empire Strikes Back after his agent encouraged him to.

30 April

Peter Mayhew died (2019)
Today in 2019 we had the very sad news that Peter Mayhew had died in Boyd, Texas, USA. Peter is best known for portraying Chewbacca in all live-action Star Wars movies from the 1977 original to 2015's The Force Awakens before his retirement.