Emperor Palpatine

Sheev Palpatine is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise, created by George Lucas. Initially credited as The Emperor in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, he is also known by his Sith name Darth Sidious.

The character appears in each trilogy in the nine-film Skywalker saga, in which he is portrayed by Ian McDiarmid and serves as the saga's primary antagonist. In the original trilogy, Palpatine is depicted as Emperor of the Galactic Empire and the master of Darth Vader. In the prequel trilogy, he is portrayed as a charismatic politician—and, secretly, a Sith Lord—who orchestrates the Clone Wars, all but exterminates the Jedi Order, ends the Galactic Republic, and seduces Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker to the dark side of the Force. In The Rise of Skywalker (2019), the final film in the sequel trilogy, Palpatine is revealed to be the mastermind behind the First Order and the creator of its former leader, Snoke, as well as the grandfather of protagonist Rey.

Since the release of Return of the Jedi in 1983, Palpatine has become a widely recognized symbol of evil in popular culture, and since the prequel films, also one of sinister deception and the subversion of democracy. Aside from the films, Palpatine appears in various canon and non-canon Star Wars media.

Live-Action

 * Ian McDiarmid
 * Marjorie Eaton (original release of Episode V)

Voices

 * Clive Revill (original release of Episode V)
 * Ian McDiarmid (Rebels, Season 2 since 2019, Season 4, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 7; archive audio, Star Wars: The Bad Batch; archive audio)
 * Sam Witwer (Rebels, Season 2 until 2019, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga)
 * Ian Abercrombie (The Clone Wars film and TV series, Seasons 1–6)
 * Tim Curry (The Clone Wars, Seasons 5–6)
 * Nick Jameson (Clone Wars)
 * Trevor Devall (Lego Star Wars films and TV shows)