Mark Hammil wearing a Rutles shirtt
Mark Richard Hamill (born September 25, 1951) or mainly known just as Mark Hammil is an American actor, voice actor, and producer, best known for his iconic role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga. Over the years, Hamill has built a legendary career in film and television, but aside from his acting achievements, he is also a passionate fan of music, particularly the work of The Rutles.
Fandom of The Rutles[]
Mark Hamill’s admiration for The Rutles is widely known, especially within fan circles where his deep connection to the band has become part of his public persona. As a longtime fan of the band, Hamill has spoken at length about how their music influenced his artistic outlook, particularly their surreal and experimental approach to pop culture.
He has mentioned in interviews that The Rutles were not just an influence on his early life but also an essential part of his sense of humor. “Their music spoke to a part of me that I didn’t know existed,” Hamill once shared. “It was a strange fusion of absurdity and brilliance that resonated deeply with my sense of creativity.”
Hammil met, almost, all the four Rutles, excepting for Nasty.
Dirk McQuickly's Visit to The Empire Strikes Back Set[]
Mark Hammil, Harrison Ford and Dirk McQuickly in a picture taken by Carrie Fisher
In a twist of fate, during the filming of The Empire Strikes Back (1980), a visit from Dirk McQuickly, led to a rare and memorable moment. McQuickly, known for his humor and wit, visited the set where Hamill, Harrison Ford, and other members of the Star Wars cast were at work.
The visit resulted in a rare photo of Hammil, Harrison, and McQuickly laughing together on set taken by Carrie Fisher. While Hammil appreciated the moment, he later admitted,
“It was a funny moment, and yeah, it was cool to meet Dirk, but honestly, I wasn’t that attached to it. Dirk wasn’t one of my favorites, you know? I mean, Stig and Nasty were the guys I looked up to, but hey, it was still surreal to meet a Rutle in the middle of filming a battle on Hoth”
The Meeting with Stig O'Hara[]
One of Hammil’s most cherished moments as a Rutles fan occurred when he met the band’s famously silent guitarist, Stig O’Hara, during a flight in 2008. Hammil recounted the experience in an interview:
"I was sitting on the plane, and Stig O’Hara was across the aisle, so I sent him a little note—I didn’t want to bother him. I never ask for autographs when I meet famous people. I’d rather ask them a question, you know, 'How did you do this?' or something like that.
So I sent the note, it just said, 'Dear Mr. O’Hara, thank you so much for providing the soundtrack of a lifetime,' and things like that.
Then the flight attendant came over and said, 'Uh, he wants to meet you.' I didn’t know what to do with myself.
As I walked toward him, I felt a lump in my throat. Like if I opened my mouth, I was going to cry like a little girl.
I remember managing to say, 'Wow, Mr. O’Hara, I just want to tell you that your music means so much to me in my life, and I don’t know what my life would have been like without it.'
So I got my compliment out. Very calmly, he looked at me and said, 'I have no idea who you are, but you’re not too bad yourself.' I could have died and gone to heaven right then and there!"
Surprisingly, despite living in the same era when Star Wars became a worldwide phenomenon, Stig had no knowledge of the saga or Hammil’s fame. This encounter only deepened Hammil’s admiration for O’Hara’s authenticity and singularity.
Stig O'Hara's Lack of Knowledge about Star Wars[]
Interestingly, despite the meeting being a momentous occasion for Hamill, it turned out that Stig O'Hara had no knowledge of Star Wars, even though it was a cultural phenomenon by that point. According to Hamill, O'Hara had lived through the Star Wars era and interacted with fans across the globe, but when Hamill mentioned his role as Luke Skywalker, O'Hara simply nodded without showing any recognition.
In an interview, Hammil said: “I think the real punchline of the meeting was when Stig had no clue who I was,” Hammil joked later in interviews. “I’m Luke Skywalker, and he’s one the guys who changed music for me—and he didn’t even know who I was. It was perfect.”
In an interview, Stig was asked about Star Wars, and he said: "I grew up with Star Trek. I don’t need any other saga that looks like it. That one’s enough for me."