<P> Hamill's early career included a recurring role on the soap opera General Hospital, and a starring role on the short - lived sitcom The Texas Wheelers . He portrayed the oldest son, David, in the pilot episode of Eight Is Enough, though the role was later performed by Grant Goodeve . He also had guest appearances on The Bill Cosby Show, The Partridge Family,, Room 222 and One Day at a Time . He appeared in multiple television films such as The City, and Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic . </P> <P> Robert Englund was auditioning for a role in Apocalypse Now when he walked across the hall where auditions were taking place for George Lucas's Star Wars . After watching the auditions for a while, he realized that Hamill, his friend, would be perfect for the role of Luke Skywalker . He suggested to Hamill that he audition for the role; Hamill did and won the role . </P> <P> Released in May 1977, Star Wars was an enormous, unexpected success and had a huge effect on the film industry . Hamill also appeared in the Star Wars Holiday Special in 1978 and later starred in the successful sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi . During the time between the first two films, Hamill was involved in a serious automobile accident, fracturing his nose and left cheekbone . False rumors spread that he required plastic surgery on his face . For both of the sequels, Hamill was honored with the Saturn Award for Best Actor given by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films . </P> <P> Hamill reprised the role of Luke Skywalker for the radio dramatizations of both Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back . For the Return of the Jedi radio drama, the role was played by a different actor . </P>

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