How Tall Is Darth Vader?: A Look At The Menacing Form Of The Infamous Star Wars Villain

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You don’t get much more iconic than Darth Vader when it comes to movie villains, with so much about the character making him one of the most infamous bad guys in the history of cinema. 

From his well-known armor to his iconic headgear and his legendary voice, most of what makes Darth Vader‘s look so memorable are features that also make him incredibly imposing, including his statuesque height. 

But how tall is Darth Vader exactly? In this article, we will be looking at just how tall Darth Vader is, as well as his height before he had to adopt that signature suit. 

Not only that, but we will also be looking at some other fun facts about Darth Vader as a character- such as what actors have played him- and what other features make him so intimidating. Let’s get started. 

Who Is Darth Vader?

This might seem like an obvious question because who doesn’t know who Darth Vader is in this day and age? But before we look at his physical features, we should at least dive into a bit about what makes him such a fearsome character. 

Darth Vader, also known as Anakin Skywalker, is a central character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a powerful and legendary Sith Lord who serves as one of the primary antagonists in the original trilogy.

Before he was Darth Vader, he was Anakin Skywalker, a former Jedi Knight who ultimately succumbed to the dark side of the Force, which is the mystical energy that flows through all living things in the Star Wars universe.

He was trained in the ways of the dark side by Darth Sidious, a powerful Sith Lord who sought to use Anakin’s strength and skill to overthrow the Galactic Republic and bring about a new era of Sith rule.

As Darth Vader, Anakin became one of the most feared and powerful beings in the galaxy, capable of incredible feats of strength and wielding a red lightsaber.

He was responsible for some of the most heinous acts in the Star Wars universe, including the destruction of entire planets and the hunting down and killing of countless Jedi.

Despite his reputation as a ruthless and uncompromising villain, Darth Vader was also a tragic figure, haunted by his past and torn between his loyalty to the dark side and his love for his son, Luke Skywalker. 

In the end, it was Luke who was able to redeem Darth Vader and bring him back to the light, helping to restore balance to the Force and ultimately bringing about the downfall of the evil Empire.

How Tall Is Darth Vader?

In terms of the canonical Star Wars universe, the character height of Darth Vader is officially listed as 2.03 meters (6 feet 8 inches), which is consistent with the on-screen portrayal of the character as being tall and imposing. 

This height is based on Vader’s appearance in the Star Wars movies, as well as in other official media such as novels, comic books, and video games.

However, it’s worth noting that the height of the character may vary slightly depending on the actor or portrayal, as different performers may bring their own physical traits and interpretations to the role.

How Tall Is Anakin Skywalker?

So how tall was Darth Vader before he made the transformation into the iconic villain that we know today?

Anakin Skywalker’s height is not specified in the Star Wars movies or any other official media, but in the movies, the actor who played Anakin in the prequel trilogy, Hayden Christensen, is 6 feet (183 cm) tall.

It’s possible that this is also roughly the height of the character, as the films generally try to cast actors who are physically suited to their role.

With this in mind, it is safe to assume that before his disfigurements that led to his needing his well known suit, the character stood at about 6ft tall. 

The Actors Who Have Played Darth Vader And Their Heights 

Several actors have played the role of Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies, and their heights have varied slightly, so let’s take a look at them. 

David Prowse- 6 feet 6 inches (198cm tall)

Prowse played the character in the original Star Wars trilogy, and he was the tallest actor to portray the character until one of the newer movies, which we will touch on further down this list.¹

Bob Anderson- 6 feet 1 inch (185cm tall)

Anderson acted as the stand in for Prowse and performed the fight scenes as Vader in the original trilogy due to being a professional sword master. ²

Hayden Christensen- 6 feet (183cm tall)

As mentioned above, Christensen played Vader before his turn to the dark side in Episodes II and III of the Star Wars prequel film trilogy. ³

Spencer Wilding- 6 feet 7 inches (201cm tall)

Wilding played one of the most recent iterations of Vader in the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He is the tallest of all the actors to have played the character, standing a huge 201cm tall!⁴

James Earl Jones- 6 feet 2.5 inches (189cm)

James Earl Jones provides the distinctive, booming voice of Darth Vader, and although he doesn’t physically embody the character at any point, he is definitely worth a mention due to his significant part in the character becoming as iconic as he is today.

Funnily enough, Jones is also pretty tall, standing at 189cm! ⁵

The Height Difference Between Anakin Skywalker And Darth Vader

Darth Vader is portrayed as being significantly taller than Anakin Skywalker. This height difference is largely due to the character’s iconic black armor and helmet, which add several inches to his height and give him a larger-than-life appearance.

In the story, the transformation into Darth Vader involves Anakin suffering severe injuries on the planet Mustafar, which require him to wear a life-support suit to survive.

This suit is designed to be imposing and intimidating, and it includes built-in enhancements to make Vader stronger and more powerful, including the helmet and boots that increase his height.

The height difference between Anakin and Vader also helps to visually underscore the physical and emotional transformation that the character undergoes as he turns to the dark side of the Force.

Anakin’s journey from a promising young Jedi to a powerful Sith Lord is marked by a significant change in his appearance, and the height difference between the two characters is just one of many ways that this change is reflected on-screen.

What Makes Darth Vader So Intimidating? 

As well as his towering height, various other elements of the character also add to his threatening presence, thanks to the performances of the actors playing him and the nature of the character as a whole. 

This includes James Earl Jones’s incredible vocal performance, Vader’s otherworldly appearance thanks to his unique helmet and armor design, the character’s physicality- such as his slow and deliberate movements and menacing gait excellently portrayed by David Prowse- and his ability to use the Force in a devastating manner. 

All of these elements- and more- come together to contribute to Darth Vader‘s frightening nature. 

Final Thoughts 

Darth Vader’s height is one of the many factors that contribute to his intimidating presence as a character in the Star Wars universe. 

While the actors who have played the role of Vader have varied somewhat in height, the character’s iconic black armor and helmet add several inches to his height and help to create that menacing appearance

As well as that, the physical and emotional transformation that Anakin Skywalker undergoes as he becomes Darth Vader is marked by a significant change in his appearance, and the height difference between the two characters helps to visually underscore this transformation. 

Overall, while Vader’s height may not be the most important factor in his intimidating presence, it is certainly one of the many elements that make him such a memorable and fearsome character.

Sources:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/

https://www.celebheights.com/s/Spencer-Wilding-5714.html

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0159789/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0026428/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001190/bio/?ref_=nm_ql_1