Summary
In a franchise as old and big asStar Wars,there is a large cast of varied and unique characters. Much of the main cast inStar Warsis composed of tragic individuals or people with a tough past and questions about their future.
There’s also a large cast of supporting and minor characters, some of whomplay a prominent partin certain events. Whilst not on the grand and galaxy-wide scale of the main cast, these characters suffer unfortunate things, sometimes resulting in losing their lives. Some are publicly disgraced, others are betrayed and still others are heroic and noble individuals whose deaths seem utterly tragic, rendering them as some of the most unfortunate characters in the series.
12Ben Quadinaros (The Phantom Menace)
The Podracer had the most unfortunate and embarrassing time at the Boonta Eve Classic. After stalling as the race begins, Ben tries in vain to restart the vehicle, but even more embarrassingly all 4 of his engines take off and explode. The naturally timid Toong ends up on the ground as the other racers whoosh past him. How very unfortunate.
However, despite his humiliating loss, Ben persists with podracing and doesn’t end up so hapless again.He eventually becomes Sebulba’s strongest rival. Anakin Skywalker even has a podracing poster with Quadinaros and Sebulba on in his personal quarters inStar Wars:The Clone Wars.
The kindly Kaminoan was the administrative aide to Prime Minister Lama Su. She welcomed Obi-Wan into the cloning facility when she believed him to be sent on behalf of the long-awaited Jedi, Sifo-Dyas. Obi-Wan took advantage of her naivete to infiltrate the facility anddiscover Jango Fett.
InThe Bad Batch, Lama Su sent her to retrieve Omega and pay bounty hunter Cad Bane. Unfortunately for Taun We, she’s ambushed and killed by another bounty hunter, Fennec Shand, who wants to take Bane’s payment. It’s sad that this gentle soul was brought back 20 years later only to meet a hapless death.
10Teckla Minnau (The Clone Wars)
Padmé’s handmaiden Teckla is negatively impacted by the war. Because of the Republic’s diversion of funds to the war effort, many citizens are left without basic amenities. Teckla and her children live in a district with no electricity and scarce water.
Although hesitant at first, she ended up involved with Padmé and Clovis’ plan to investigate the Republic’s finances. She found herself tasked with deactivating the power generator on Scipio, having to take the job from Clovis amidst a change of plans. Unfortunately, this leads to her beingshot and killedby a bounty hunter.
9Admiral Ackbar (Episodes 6, 7, 8, The Clone Wars)
Ackbar is a fan-favorite minor character. After fighting a pivotal underwater battle tosave his homeworldinThe Clone Wars, years later he and his fleet get caught in the Empire’s infamous trap whilst attempting to destroy the Second Death Star. Acting swiftly, he negotiates a way out of the trap, his fleet buying time for the fighters.
He later becomes part of the Resistance. In a crucial decision to try and evade the First Order, Ackbar suggests jumping into hyperspace. Unfortunately, the Order was one step ahead, able to track the Resistances’ movements via new technology. They pursue them and strike Ackbar’s fleet. After all, he’s been through, the esteemed military leader is sucked into space after a huge explosion destroys the ship.
8Mina Bonteri (The Clone Wars)
The obscure Separatist Senator became the victim of Darth Sidious. A good-natured woman and friend of Padmé, Bonteri sought to reach a peace agreement with the Republic Senate to end the war and met Padmé secretly.
Unfortunately though, when Padmé reveals her name to the Chancellor, secretly the Sith Lord Palpatine, he gets his apprentice Dooku to eliminate her. Lying to the Republic, Dooku blames her death on Republic forces who supposedly attacked her. Leaving behind her orphan son Lux, Mina’s death was ultimately orchestrated by exterior agents.
7Paige Tico (The Last Jedi)
Rose’s older sister, Paige is a valiant and talented pilot. Her sacrifice is among the most gut-wrenching in the movie. In a tense battle as the Resistance evacuates D’Qar, Paige is tasked with releasing proton bombs on the First Order’s Dreadnought.
Unfortunately, an explosion caused her to fall and lose consciousness attempting this. When she comes around, the bomb’s controller is stuck at the top of the ladder. Knowing that detonating the bombs is the only way to destroy the dreadnought, she kicks the ladder and grabs the falling controller, detonating it just in time. Sadly she’s caught in the blast, giving her life to help the Resistance.
6Ragnar Vizsla (The Mandalorian)
A newly inducted Mandalorian, Ragnar is the son of Paz Vizsla. Things don’t start off the greatest for him. In his first duel, he’s defeated by the tiny Grogu. Then the session gets interrupted when a raptor carries off poor Ragnar and swallows him! He has to wait a whole day before he’s rescued by Bo-Katan and her crew.
Later in the series, he returns to Mandalore with the rest of his covert. He undergoes the ceremonial ritualall Mandaloriansmust perform, only to have it interrupted by another great creature! On a sadder note, Ragnar also loses his father when Paz Vizsla sacrifices himself to save the others at the hands of Moff Gideon.
5Oola (Return of the Jedi)
The Twi’lek dancer in Jabba’s palace, poor Oola is dropped alive into the Rancor pit and doesn’t last long. Prior to this, she had more of an unfortunate backstory than seen in the film.
She was enslaved and taken to Tatooine by Jabba’s majordomo Bib Fortuna. Oola was offered an opportunity to escape, but she took a major chance. Believing Fortuna’s lies that Jabba’s palace was grand and lavish, she chose to remain in her hapless position. Sadly for her though, this meant being chained to Jabba’s throne, forced to dance, and eventually becoming the Rancor’s breakfast.
4Cordé (Attack of the Clones)
The first on-screen death inEpisode 2belongs to an unfortunate but noble handmaiden, Cordé. Dutifully following Captain Typho’s orders to pose as Senator Padmé Amidala, she becomes the victim of Zam Wesell, who was hired to assassinate the Senator. Ironically, the attack commences straight after Typho says: “there was no danger at all!”
Though a brief scene, it highlights how Cordé was a hapless victim of ill-timing. Eventhe chief decoy SabéinThe Phantom Menace, who was in many more dangerous situations than her, didn’t lose her life to an unexpected bounty hunter attack.
3Feral Opress (The Clone Wars)
Darth Maul and Savage Opress’ brother, poor Feral gets trapped in an unfortunate and tragic situation. He is among those selectedby Asajj Ventressto become a champion to aid her in her vengeful quest against Count Dooku, along with Savage. Feral relied heavily on Savage due to his own combat weaknesses. But this proved to be his undoing.
Savage helped Feral survive all 3 of Ventress’ tests; everyone else was killed by her. Unfortunately, though, Savage is manipulated by the Nightsisters, turning him into a brutal monster tasked with killing Feral. Feral’s confused and desperate appeal to Savage is ignored, and he’s murdered by his own brother.
