Cliegg Lars

Cliegg Lars is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, introduced in the 2002 film "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones." Born on the desert planet Tatooine, Cliegg is a moisture farmer who lives a humble life with his family. He is portrayed by actor Jack Thompson in the film.

Cliegg Lars plays a pivotal role in the Skywalker family history, as he is the stepfather of Anakin Skywalker, the father of Luke Skywalker, and the husband of Shmi Skywalker. Upon purchasing Shmi as a slave, Cliegg treats her with kindness and eventually marries her, granting her freedom from her previous life of servitude.

Before his marriage to Shmi, Cliegg had a son named Owen Lars with his first wife, Aika. Owen would later go on to marry Beru Whitesun and become the uncle and caretaker of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.

Tragedy strikes the Lars family when Shmi is captured by Tusken Raiders, a vicious species native to Tatooine. Cliegg, who suffers from a leg injury, is unable to rescue her on his own. He loses a leg during an unsuccessful attempt to save Shmi, resulting in the need for a prosthetic leg and making him reliant on a hoverchair for mobility.

Anakin Skywalker, Shmi's son and a Jedi Padawan at the time, returns to Tatooine to find his mother. Cliegg informs Anakin about his mother's abduction and the unsuccessful rescue attempts made by him and the others. Determined to save his mother, Anakin sets out on his own to find her, only to discover her severely injured and dying in the Tusken Raider camp.

Cliegg's kindness toward Shmi and the impact of her death serve as key elements in Anakin's development as a character, propelling him toward his eventual transformation into Darth Vader. Fueled by sorrow and anger over his mother's death, Anakin falls deeper into the dark side of The Force, leading to a series of events that result in him embracing the Sith Lord identity.

Cliegg Lars is a significant character in the Star Wars saga, mainly due to his family ties and influence on Anakin Skywalker's life. Although his appearances are brief, Cliegg's role in the Skywalker family story is important in understanding Anakin's complex journey towards becoming Darth Vader.