Mark Hamill was in a serious car accident in January 1977 that caused facial fractures and subtle changes to his appearance, especially noticeable when comparing him in Star Wars: A New Hope versus The Empire Strikes Back. The accident required reconstructive surgery on his nose and cheekbone, leaving him looking slightly older and more angular afterward, though not unrecognizably different.

Before the accident

Before the crash, Hamill’s face in A New Hope appears rounder and more boyish, with a smoother nose and softer cheek structure. His overall look is that of a very youthful leading man, with fewer sharp lines in his features and a more “fresh‑faced” appearance on screen.

The 1977 accident

In January 1977 he lost control of his car on a Southern California freeway, went off the road, and the vehicle rolled, leaving him with a fractured nose and cheekbone that required surgery. Surgeons reportedly used cartilage (including from his ear) to rebuild his nose, and he later described waking up in the hospital feeling that his acting career might be over because of the damage to his face.

After the accident

After surgery and healing, Hamill’s face in later appearances (the 1978 Holiday Special and especially The Empire Strikes Back) shows a slightly straighter, more reconstructed nose and more defined, asymmetric cheeks. The change is subtle but visible enough that fans often note he looks older and a bit more angular compared with his pre‑accident look.

Effect on Star Wars

The production team incorporated his changed appearance into the story with Luke’s injuries from the Wampa attack at the start of The Empire Strikes Back, providing an in‑universe reason for facial scars and differences. Despite initial fears, the accident did not derail his career, and he went on to continue as Luke Skywalker and build a major career in voice acting and other roles.

Quick visual comparison

• Pre‑accident: rounder, softer face; smoother nose; very boyish look in A New Hope.

• Post‑accident: slightly altered nose, more pronounced cheekbones, more mature and angular appearance in The Empire Strikes Back and beyond.