The Emperor — Return of the Jedi Character Profile

About The Emperor

Sith Lord, ruler of the Galactic Empire

The Emperor — Character Profile

Alignment

Villain

Species

Human

Abilities

Force lightning, Political manipulation, Sith alchemy, Strategic planning, Intimidation

• Strength: 5/10
• Intelligence: 9/10
• Charisma: 8/10
• Morality: 1/10
• Influence: 10/10

Affiliations

• Sith
• Galactic Empire
• Galactic Republic
• Confederacy of Independent Systems
• Trade Federation
• Galactic Senate
• First Order
• Royal House of Naboo
• Star Wars universe

Quick Facts about The Emperor

Full Name

Sheev Palpatine

Occupation

monarch, Sith, politician

Eye Color

Orange

Hair Color

Brown hair

First Appearance

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Manner of Death

Vaporization

The Emperor's Known Relations

• Cosinga Palpatine — Father
• Supreme Leader Snoke — Child
• Dathan — Child
• Rey — Relative
• Count Dooku — Student
• Mara Jade — Student
• Starkiller — Student
• Darth Maul — Student
• Vergere — Student
• Ferus Olin — Student
• Lumiya — Student
• Darth Vader — Student
• Darth Plagueis — Student of
• Sith — Member of
• Galactic Empire — Member of
• Galactic Republic — Member of
• Confederacy of Independent Systems — Member of
• Trade Federation — Member of
• Galactic Senate — Member of
• First Order — Member of
• Royal House of Naboo — Member of
• Jedi — Enemy
• Mace Windu — Enemy
• Yoda — Enemy
• Luke Skywalker — Enemy
• Princess Leia — Enemy
• Jedi Council — Enemy

The Emperor appears in 7 titles

• The Empire Strikes Back (1980) — character page
• Return of the Jedi (1983)
• Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) — character page
• Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) — character page
• Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) — character page
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) — character page
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) — character page

Character Facts

Played by

Ian McDiarmid

Appears in

Return of the Jedi (1983)

Role

Supporting

Relationships (5)

• The Emperor — Power Enforcer And Master — Darth Vader (David Prowse)

  Vader operates as the Emperor's Sith enforcer until he turns against him.

  The Emperor orders Vader to bring Luke before him, and Vader serves the Emperor during Luke's confrontation.

• The Emperor — Conflict Corruptor — Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)

  The Emperor seeks to convert Luke rather than merely destroy him.

  The Emperor intends to turn Luke to the dark side and tempts him to embrace anger during the confrontation.

• The Emperor — Conflict Military Adversaries — Admiral Ackbar (Tim Rose)

  Ackbar commands the Rebel response to the Emperor's Imperial trap.

  Ackbar leads the Rebel fleet into the assault while the Emperor's forces wait with the Death Star's shield still active.

• The Emperor — Conflict Military Adversary — Wedge (Denis Lawson)

  Wedge directly contributes to the destruction of the Emperor's superweapon.

  Wedge participates in the fighter attack that destroys the Death Star's main reactor.

• The Emperor — Narrative Former Servant And Betrayer — Anakin Skywalker (Sebastian Shaw)

  Anakin's final act breaks the Emperor's control and ends his rule.

  Vader, whose former identity is Anakin Skywalker, kills the Emperor's attack on Luke by throwing him down a shaft.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of Return of the Jedi

More characters from Return of the Jedi

• Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)
• Han Solo (Harrison Ford)
• Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher)
• C-3PO (Anthony Daniels)
• Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew)
• Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams)
• Darth Vader (David Prowse)
• Anakin Skywalker (Sebastian Shaw)
• Darth Vader (voice) (James Earl Jones)
• Yoda (voice) (Frank Oz)
• R2-D2 / Paploo (Kenny Baker)
• Ben 'Obi-Wan' Kenobi (Alec Guinness)