Anakin Skywalker's age has been a contentious topic when discussing the Star Wars movie (later retitled A New Hope), Anakin Skywalker is one of the franchise's most enduring characters. He's a major figure in both the original trilogy and the prequels, and his legacy runs on into the sequel era.

Chronologically, Anakin first appeared in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and last appeared in Return of the Jedi. He lived a long and eventful life, fighting in the Clone Wars, becoming the youngest member ever to the Jedi Council, and co-ruling the galaxy as a Dark Lord of the Sith. Here's how old Anakin Skywalker is in each Star Wars movie and TV show.

Anakin Skywalker Was Nine Years Old In The Phantom Menace

32 BBY

Anakin Skywalker was born in 41 BBY ("Before the Battle of Yavin," the event around which the entire Star Wars timeline is oriented). This means he is 9 years old when he s the Jedi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, unusually old to be recruited to the Jedi. He immediately became infatuated with Pé Amidala, sensing through the Force that they would one day marry - even if he didn't know this was forbidden under the Jedi Code at that early an age.

Anakin Skywalker Was 19 Years Old In Attack Of The Clones

22 BBY

The prequel trilogy fast-forwards by a decade, meaning Anakin Skywalker was 19 years old in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones - which might help explain why he's so clumsy at romance. Anakin married Pé at the end of this movie. According to Mike Chen's canon novel Brotherhood, Anakin became a Jedi Knight some weeks later, with the Jedi Council viewing his experiences on Geonosis as sufficient to the Jedi Trials.

The Clone Wars Took Three Years

22 BBY to 19 BBY

As the Jedi general of the 501st Legion, Anakin played a pivotal role during the Clone Wars, which lasted for three years, as depicted in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Starting out as a 19-year-old general, Anakin grew immensely during this time, when he spent the ages of 20, 21, and 22 not only leading his men into battle, but also teaching his own Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. Having so much responsibility helped to mold Anakin into a brave, loyal, and caring leader who was renowned across the galaxy.

These formative years for Anakin helped him to become the hero that he was at the time of his descent into darkness. The young man Anakin was at 19 was vastly different from who he was at 22, due to how the fighting in this war shaped him. Still, his young age made his heroics and his leadership absolutely impressive, which he was often praised for during that time.

Anakin Skywalker Was 22 Years Old In Revenge Of The Sith

19 BBY

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith picks the movies back up at the end of the Clone Wars, when every battle he's fought is beginning to culminate. Anakin Skywalker is 22 years old at this point in the timeline, a crucial moment in his life when he falls to the dark side and becomes Darth Vader. His fall is a result of years of trauma, manipulation, and fear, turning what used to be his greatest strengths during the war against himself.

Darth Vader Was 32 In The Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ TV Show

9 BBY

Obi-Wan Kenobi is next in the Star Wars timeline, taking place exactly ten years after Obi-Wan left his former apprentice for dead on the lava fields of Mustafar. This means Darth Vader is 32 in Obi-Wan Kenobi (his master, in contrast, is 48). The age difference didn't work in Darth Vader's favor, though, as he ultimately lost another duel with Obi-Wan.

Darth Vader Was 41 Years Old In Rogue One & A New Hope

0 BBY

The Star Wars movies fast-forward again to the end of the Dark Times of the Empire's reign. Both Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and A New Hope are set when Darth Vader is 41 years old, with the Dark Lord of the Sith facing Obi-Wan for the last time. He has no idea the boy he almost shoots down during the Battle of Yavin is his son.

Darth Vader Is 44 Years Old In The Empire Strikes Back

3 ABY

When Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star, he fired the shot that started the Galactic Civil War. The Star Wars original trilogy jumps forward again, with the conflict raging for another three years. This means Darth Vader is 44 when he confronts Luke on Bespin in The Empire Strikes Back, attempting to seduce his son to the dark side.

Darth Vader Was 45 When He Died In Return Of The Jedi

4 ABY

Return of the Jedi is a year after The Empire Strikes Back, with Darth Vader facing his son for the last time. Luke's faith in his father leads to his redemption, with Anakin turning against Palpatine at last. The greatest hero of Star Wars is redeemed when he is just 45 years old, finding peace in the Force at last.

Anakin Appears In Ahsoka When He Would Have Been 52 Years Old

c.11 ABY

Anakin's death, however, didn't stop his spirit from living on. Though the timeline of the Ahsoka series isn't quite clear, it takes place a few years after The Mandalorian (9 ABY), which means that Anakin would have been about 52 years old when he appeared to Ahsoka in the World Between Worlds. Despite this, Anakin looks the way he did when Ahsoka last saw him, just before the start of Revenge of the Sith. This appearance by Anakin could very well mean that his Star Wars story is far from over, which is absolutely thrilling.