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Obi-Wan Kenobi … Obi-Wan? Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time … a long time.

– Ben Kenobi, A New Hope

Today we remember Alec Guiness at his birthday (born 1914), deceased August 5, 2000

Sir Alec Guinness is widely considered one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. He was a legend in his own right long before he took on the role as Ben Kenobi in A New Hope. Alec Guinness played Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi in the Original Trilogy but he rather want to be remember for some of the other movies and theatrical roles he has done.

Alec Guiness is the only person to receive a Best Acting nomination in any of the Star Wars movies and he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959.

“Science fiction – which gives me pause – but it is to be directed by George Lucas, who did American Graffiti (1973), which makes me think I should. Big part. Fairytale rubbish, but could be interesting.”

Ben Kenobi is an aged general and war hero that after several years on Tatooine became an eccentric and kindly old hermit. He took on to training young Luke Skywalker in the Jedi art.

The original shooting script for A New Hope refers to Obi-Wan’s home as “Ben Kenobi’s Cave.”