Mark Hamill’s nose needed surgical reconstruction. Four months before “Star Wars” opened in theaters, the actor was in a car accident that fractured his nose and cheekbone; surgeons rebuilt his nose with cartilage from one of his ears.
Hamill thought it could end his career, but three years later he returned as Luke in “The Empire Strikes Back”.
Carrie Fisher said the accident scars were given an explanation in the film: Luke’s attack by a wampa in the opening scene. Hamill did not confirm that was the reason, although he did say the makeup artists used his real scars to create the character’s wounds.
