Cliegg Lars is not a household name in the Star Wars saga, but his role is crucial in the life of Anakin Skywalker. Played by Australian actor Jack Thompson in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Cliegg Lars stands out as the man who not only rescued Shmi Skywalker from slavery but also became a stepfather to Anakin, the Chosen One.
Born on the desert planet Tatooine, Cliegg Lars was a moisture farmer, like many who eked out a living on the arid planet. His family owned a moisture farm on the outskirts of the Jundland Wastes, a harsh, unforgiving landscape home to marauding Tusken Raiders and dangerous wildlife. Despite the challenges, the Lars family thrived, becoming one of the more well-known moisture farming families in the area.
Cliegg’s life before meeting Shmi Skywalker was simple. He worked hard to maintain the farm, often with the help of his son, Owen Lars. The Lars family wasn’t wealthy, but they were self-sufficient and respected among their peers.
Rescuing Shmi Skywalker from Slavery
The most significant event in Cliegg’s life came when he met Shmi Skywalker, the mother of Anakin Skywalker. Shmi had spent years as a slave under the ownership of Watto, a Toydarian junk dealer. She lived in Mos Espa and had resigned herself to her fate. Her son, Anakin, was freed by the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn during the events of The Phantom Menace, but Shmi remained behind, bound by her servitude.
Cliegg’s encounter with Shmi was transformative for both of them. Although their meeting and eventual marriage were not depicted on screen, Star Wars lore fills in the gaps. According to both Canon and Legends, Cliegg bought Shmi’s freedom from Watto, using his savings from moisture farming. The act of freeing Shmi was not purely transactional; Cliegg had fallen in love with her. After years of slavery, Shmi finally had a chance at happiness and a new life with Cliegg on the Lars homestead.
Their marriage marked a new chapter in Shmi’s life. She moved to the Lars farm, where she became a stepmother to Owen. For a time, life on Tatooine was peaceful, and Shmi found solace in her new family. Cliegg, too, was content, living alongside the woman he loved and continuing the hard work of moisture farming.
Tragedy Strikes
However, life on Tatooine is rarely kind, and tragedy was never far away. A year before the events of Attack of the Clones, Shmi was captured by a group of Tusken Raiders while she was out gathering mushrooms from the moisture vaporators. The Tuskens took her to one of their camps, where she endured weeks of torture and suffering. Cliegg, Owen, and several of their farmhands attempted to rescue her, but the mission ended in disaster.
Cliegg lost his leg during the rescue attempt, and many of his companions were killed. Broken both physically and emotionally, Cliegg returned home, where he was forced to come to terms with the fact that Shmi was likely dead. The once hopeful farmer became a man consumed by grief, his love for Shmi leaving a gaping wound in his life.
When Anakin Skywalker returned to Tatooine in search of his mother, he found a shattered Cliegg. In one of the more poignant moments in Attack of the Clones, Cliegg, bedridden and missing a leg, told Anakin about the Tusken Raiders and the failed rescue attempt. His sorrow was palpable, a stark contrast to the strong, capable man he once was. Anakin, driven by a desperate need to save his mother, set out to find her, but it was too late. Shmi died in Anakin’s arms after being held captive for weeks by the Tuskens, a moment that would later fuel Anakin’s descent into darkness.
Legacy and Connection to the Skywalkers
Cliegg Lars may have been a moisture farmer, but his connection to the Skywalker family places him at the heart of one of the most important legacies in the galaxy. As the stepfather of Anakin Skywalker, Cliegg played a role, however indirect, in shaping the fate of the galaxy. His love for Shmi and his determination to free her from slavery resonate with themes of sacrifice, love, and loss—concepts central to the Star Wars saga.
Although Cliegg himself does not appear beyond Attack of the Clones, his legacy is felt through his family. After Shmi’s death, Cliegg continued to live on the Lars homestead with his son, Owen. Owen Lars would go on to marry Beru Whitesun, and together they would raise Anakin’s son, Luke Skywalker, on the same moisture farm. This connection to Luke ties Cliegg directly to the original trilogy and the Skywalker saga as a whole.
Cliegg Lars’ Place in the Star Wars Saga
Cliegg Lars is a minor character in the grand tapestry of Star Wars, but his role is pivotal. His actions directly influence the life of Anakin Skywalker, and by extension, the fate of the galaxy. By freeing Shmi Skywalker from slavery, Cliegg not only gave her a chance at happiness but also set in motion events that would lead to the rise of the Empire and the eventual redemption of Anakin through his son, Luke.
Cliegg’s love for Shmi, his determination to protect his family, and the tragedy that followed make him a deeply human character in a galaxy filled with Jedi, Sith, and starships. His story is one of love, loss, and resilience—qualities that resonate with the core themes of the Star Wars saga.
