Key dates in Star Wars: August

August

1 August

Star Wars: Episode IX Rise of the Skywalker begins filming (2018)
Today in 2018 filming began for Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, the third and final instalment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Hope is running high that the movie will end the 9 movie Saga story to universal acclaim of the fans.

2 August

Simon Kinberg is born (1973)
In 1973, in London, UK, Simon Kinberg was born today. Simon is a successful screenwriter and producer - for both film and television. He was a creator, writer and executive producer for the much loved Star Wars Rebels tv show.

3 August

Alex McCrindle is born (1911)
Alex McCrindle was born this day in 1911 in Glasgow, Scotland. Alex played a range of minor roles in TV shows from the 1930s until 1990. He also had movie roles including being cast as General Jan Dodonna in the first Star Wars film.

4 August

Kristoffer Tabori is born (1952)
Today in 1952 Kristoffer Tabori was born in Malibu, California. The actor and director voiced HK-47 in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.

5 August

Sir Alec Guinness died (2000)
In 2000, Sir Alec Guinness, the original Jedi Knight, died in Midhurst, West Sussex, England aged 86. His fee for Star Wars was 2.25% of the gross royalties paid to the director, George Lucas, who received one-fifth of the box office takings.

Other events on this day...
Paul Kasey is born (1973)

6 August

Chris Edgerly is born (1969)
Today in 1969, in Silver Spring, Maryland, Chris Edgerly was born. Chris is a voice actor, comedian and singer, who played Eeth Koth (the Iridonian Zabrak Jedi Master) in Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV show.

7 August

Nishan Hindes & Nifa Hindes are Born (1979)
In 1979 the identical twin models Nishan and Nifa Hindes were born in Gloucestershire, UK. The pair have featured on the covers of a number of magazines and in 1999 they played the twin twi'lek slaves of the pod racer, Sebulba: Tann and Ann Gella.

8 August

First Day of Filming Rogue One (2015)
In 2015 today marked the first day of filming for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The movie is set mere days ahead of the original Star Wars (later to become A New Hope), and we see Princess Leia say 'Hope' as the final line of the movie.

9 August

Michael Kingma is born (1979)
Today in 1979 Micheal Kingma was born in Manly, New South Wales, Australia. A former professional basketball player, he played a wookie in Revenge of the Sith along with fellow Australian basketballers. Micheal's role was as Tarfful.

10 August

LEGO Group founded (1932)
The LEGO Group was founded today in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. LEGO has passed from father to son and is now owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, a grandchild of the founder. 20 years ago LEGO began their partnership with Star Wars.

Other events on this day...
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film) Hollywood Red Carpet Premiere (2008)

11 August

Ian McDiarmid is born (1944)
Ian McDiarmid was born today in 1944 in Carnoustie, Scotland. A well-regarded actor, Ian is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Emperor Palpatine, in Return of the Jedi, and the character's younger self in the Prequel Trilogy.

Other events on this day...
Peter Cushing died (1994)

12 August

Oliver Ford Davies is born (1939)
Today in 1939 Oliver Ford Davies was born in Ealing, London. Oliver has been a successful actor since the 1960's appearing on stage, TV and in movies. From 1999 until 2005 he played Naboo Governor Sio Bibble in Star Wars.

Other events on this day...
Han Solo and the Lost Legacy is published (1980)

13 August

Kenny Baker died (2016)
Today in 2016, we all received the very sad news that Kenny Baker (aka R2-D2) had died in Preston, UK. Kenny had played Artoo in every Star Wars movie up to this time, Episodes 1 to 7 of the Saga.

14 August

Star Wars: The Clone Wars premieres in Australian and German Cinemas (2008)
In 2008, Star Wars: The Clone Wars premieres in Australian and German cinemas - fours days after its Hollywood red carpet premiere. The movie was a box office success, grossing $68.3mn worldwide against an $8.5mn budget.

15 August

Matthew Wood is born (1972)
Matthew Wood was born today in Walnut Creek, California, in 1972. Matthew's primary role is as a sound enginner, but he also voices General Grievous in Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and various video games.

Other events on this day...
The Clone Wars Movie is released (2008)

16 August

Barbara Goodson is born (1949)
Barbara Goodson was born today in 1949 in Brooklyn, New York. Barbara is the voice actress who provided the voice of the Dathomirian leader of the Nightsisters, Mother Talzin, in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Other events on this day...
Star Wars Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle is published (2010)

17 August

Rae Carson is born (1973)
In Oakland, California, Rae Carson was born today in 1973. Rae is a New York Times bestselling author and since 2017, she has written a number of tie-in stories for the Star Wars universe including the Solo backstory: Most Wanted.

18 August

Paul Griffin is born (1960)
Today in 1960 Paul Griffin was born in Ontario, Canada. Paul is an accomplished visual effects animator who worked on Ep I and II of the Prequels. Paul's work includes much of the animation for the Gungan parade at the end of The Phantom Menace.

19 August

Ahmed Best is born (1973)
In New York, Ahmed Best was born today in 1973. Ahmed is the actor, voice actor, and musician who provided the motion capture and voice of Jar Jar Binks in the Prequel Trilogy.

20 August

James Marsters is born (1962)
James Marsters was born today in California in 1962. Whilst best known for his role as the English vampire, Spike, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, James is also a talented voice actor who played Captain Argyus in The Clone Wars TV show.

21 August

Demo of The Force Unleashed is released (2008)
On this day in 2008 a demo for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is released for download on Xbox LIVE and Playstation Network. The video game takes place between Revenge of the Sith & A New Hope and tells the story of Vader's apprentice: Starkiller.

22 August

Stephen Stanton is born (1961)
Today in 1961, in Augsburg, Germany, American voice actor Stephen Stanton was born. Stephen has voiced a number of Star Wars characters in computer games, the Clones Wars, Rebels and now Resistance, most notably Wilhuff Tarkin.

23 August

Ray Park is born (1974)
In 1974, today in Glasgow, Scotland, Ray Park, was born. Whilst Ray has had a number of acting roles including toad in Xmen & Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe, his greatest claim to fame (for us) is Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace and Solo.

24 August

Kenny Baker is born (1934)
In 1934, in Birmingham, England, Kenny Baker was born today. Kenny had roles in The Elephant Man, Time Bandits, Willow, Flash Gordon, Amadeus and Labyrinth - but he is best known as the man inside of R2-D2, playing in all of the OT and PT movies.

25 August

Blood Ties: A Tale of Jango and Boba Fett 1 is published (2010)
Today in 2010 Blood Ties: A Tale of Jango and Boba Fett 1 was published. It was the first issue of 4 comics from Dark Horse Comics. Set just before the Clone Wars begins Jango's actions in the story affect Boba twenty years' later.

26 August

Nazneen Contractor is born (1982)
Today in 1982 Nazneen Contractor was born in Bombay, India. The Canadian actress is best known for her role as Layla Hourani on CBC's The Border, and as Kayla Hassan on 24 in 2010. In 2018 she portrayed Synara San in Star Wars Resistance.

27 August

Paul Reubens is born (1952)
Today in 1952, in Peekskill, New York, Paul Reubens was born. Best known for his character Pee-wee Herman, in 1987 Paul provided the voice for RX-24, the RX-Series pilot droid featured in the Star Tours ride at various Disney theme parks.

28 August

Eugene Byrd is born (1975)
Eugene Byrd was born today in 1975 in Philadelphia. Eugene is an actor, appearing in a number of movies including Sleepers, 8 Mile & Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid. He voiced Zander Freemaker in LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures.

29 August

Dante Basco is born (1975)
In 1975 Dante Basco was born today in Pittsburg, California. Best known for his role as Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg's Hook, he is the voice of Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures, being the narrator on all episodes.

30 August

Nalini Krishan is born (1977)
Nalini Krishan was born today in 1977 in Suva, Fiji. Nalini has been acting and modelling for over 20 years. She is perhaps best known for her performance as the Mirialan Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee in Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

31 August

Dee Bradley Baker is Born (1962)
Today in 1962 in Bloomington, Indiana, US, Dee Bradley Baker was born. An accomplished voice actor with literally hundreds of roles to his name, but, for us, he is best known for voicing clone troopers (including Rex & Cody) in The Clone Wars.