The Jedi were nearly extinct by the start of the Star Wars original trilogy, but some Jedi managed to stay alive during the films. During the Separatist Crisis and subsequent Clone Wars, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious, gradually twisted the Republic into an autocracy, before finally staging a coup at the end of the war.
After Order 66 wiped out most of the Jedi spread out across the galaxy, the now-Emperor Palpatine tasked his apprentice, Darth Vader, with hunting down the survivors. With the Clone Troopers brainwashed into Imperial service and the Jedi nearly destroyed, the Sith and their Galactic Empire oppressed the galaxy for decades.
While many Jedi survived the Jedi Purge, not all were still Jedi (or alive) by the time of the original trilogy. Many Jedi were killed between trilogies or ceased to be Jedi, renouncing their knighthood for less conspicuous lives or even becoming Imperial dark side users. Here are all the true Jedi who lived during the original trilogy in canon and Legends.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi, as shown in Star Wars, survived the Jedi Purge and watched over Luke Skywalker on Tatooine. Though Obi-Wan died at the end of the film, the brief time he spent training Luke started him on the path of becoming a Jedi and allowed him to destroy the Death Star a the Battle of Yavin. Kenobi would return across the original trilogy, coming back as a Force Ghost to further provide guidance for Luke.
Yoda
Like Obi-Wan, Yoda bid his time, waiting to train the next Jedi who’d defeat the Sith from his home on Dagobah. As shown in The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda trained Luke Skywalker, imparting sagely wisdom for a month. At 900-years-old, Yoda became one with the Force in Return of the Jedi, believing that Luke’s training was complete.
Ferus Olin (Legends)
This Order 66 survivor was once a close personal friend to both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. Ferus Olin appears in numerous Legends-era novels, such as the Jedi Quest, Last of the Jedi, and Rebel Force series’. Olin worked closely with Bail Organa before the latter’s death when Alderaan was destroyed. Olin reluctantly joined the Rebellion after Organa’s death but kept his Jedi status secret. Ferus Olin eventually let himself be killed by Darth Vader, allowing Leia Organa to escape the Sith Lord.
Ylenic It'kla (Legends)
Ylenic It'kla was a Clone Wars veteran who lived on Alderaan after surviving the Jedi Purge, as shown in Rebel Dawn. Working closely with Bail Organa and Bria Tharen, It'kla helped form and fortify the Rebel Alliance, and was on Alderaan during the events of Star Wars. Ylenic It'kla, along with Bail Organa and every being on Alderaan, was killed when the Empire destroyed the world using the Death Star.
Echuu Shen-Jon (Legends)
A major character in the Galactic Battlegrounds video games, Echuu Shen-Jon famously defeated the CIS General Sev'rance Tann during the Clone Wars, but had used the dark side in the process and subsequently went into self-imposed exile. His exile allowed him to survive the Jedi Purge, and Shen-Jon joined the Rebellion shortly after the Battle of Yavin. During the Battle of Geddes, Shen-Jon dueled Darth Vader but was killed by the Sith Lord.
Celeste Morne (Legends)
An almost 4,000-year-old Jedi, Celeste Morne was kept in suspended animation until being revived during the reign of the Empire. As shown in the Rebellion comics, Morne, now possessed by Sith Muur Talisman dueled Luke Skywalker shortly after Star Wars. Morne easily defeated the aspiring Jedi, but Luke’s life was saved by the sacrifice of Able, a Rebel Clone Trooper.
Qu Rahn (Legends)
A major character in Dark Force II: Jedi Knight, Qu Rahn worked alongside Yoda and the Rebel Alliance member Morgan Katarn to protect the Valley of the Jedi from the Empire. Rahn lived through the events of the original trilogy but was captured by the Imperial Pentastar Alignment months after Return of the Jedi. The Imperial dark side user (and former Jedi) Jerec killed the captive Rahn, but as a Force Ghost, he trained Morgan Katarn’s son, Kyle, as a Jedi.
Vima-Da-Boda (Legends)
Vima-Da-Boda is the last living member of an ancient bloodline of human Jedi women, which began with Nomi Sunrider in the Tales of the Jedi comics. Vima was a member of both the Clone Wars-era Jedi Order and Luke’s New Jedi Order and was featured prominently in the Dark Empire comics. During the original trilogy, Vima lived in poverty on the streets of Nar Shaddaa and was at one point a prisoner in the Spice Mines of Kessel.
Ood Bnar (Legends)
An ancient Jedi from the Tales of the Jedi comics, Oof Bnar is a Neti, a sentient plant with shapeshifting abilities. Although Bnar had a major role in the Dark Empire comics, he was not active during the original trilogy. In the centuries between the two comics, Bnar was hibernating on Ossus, having taken the form of a tree.
Empatojayos Brand (Legends)
During the Jedi Purge, Empatojayos Brand was nearly killed when his ship was shot down by Darth Vader. Left for dead, Brand was rescued by the people of Ganath, who revived him with crude cybernetics. During the original trilogy, Brand ruled and protected Ganath, eventually joining Luke Skywalker in his battles against the reborn Emperor Palpatine years after Return of the Jedi.
K'Kruhk (Legends)
A fan-favorite Jedi who appeared in Star Wars: Clone Wars and the Republic comics, K'Kruhk hid himself and other Jedi Purge survivors in an ancient temple on Arkinnea. K'Kruhk kept a low profile and didn’t participate in the Galactic Civil War, but he resurfaced after the Empire lost the war and joined the New Jedi Order, as shown in the Legacy comics.
T'ra Saa (Legends)
A Neti Jedi and veteran of the Clone Wars, T’ra Saa hid from the Empire during the Jedi Purge with Tholme, a human Jedi with whom she was in love. When Tholme passed away, Saa hibernated at his burial site for decades, taking the form of a tree (similar to Ood Bnar). Saa was in this form during the original trilogy but came out of hibernation to join Luke’s New Jedi Order after Return of the Jedi.
Ahsoka Tano (Canon)
One of the franchise’s most popular characters, Ahsoka Tano’s adventures during the Clone Wars and the last years before the original trilogy, and the years after it are well documented. Ahsoka was a founding member of the Rebel Alliance, but her last appearance before her live-action debut in The Mandalorian left her stranded on Malachor. While Ahsoka lived through the original Star Wars trilogy, what she did during the films is unknown.
Ezra Bridger (Canon)
Part of the ensemble cast in Star Wars Rebels, Ezra became a true Jedi during the reign of the Galactic Empire. In the Rebels series finale, Ezra defeats Grand Admiral Thrawn with the help of purrgil creatures, sending them off into the perilous Unknown Regions of the galaxy. Ezra and Thrawn both survived, but their exact whereabouts and experiences during the original Star Wars trilogy are unknown.
Grogu (Canon)
The Force-sensitive child who debuted in The Mandalorian was once a Jedi youngling who somehow survived the Jedi Purge. In his first appearance, Grogu was being held prisoners by mercenaries on Arvala-7. While Grogu’s adventures alongside Din Djarin are well-known, his experiences during the original trilogy are unknown but may be revealed in a future story.
Luke Skywalker
Part of Luke Skywalker’s original trilogy story arc is becoming a Jedi. After defeating Darth Vader (and coming dangerously close to the dark side), Luke regains his composure, rejects the dark side, and declares himself a Jedi to Emperor Palpatine. Luke became a newer, greater sort of Jedi than his predecessors. Luke defeated the Sith by turning attachment and emotion into healthy forces for good, rather than shunning them or being controlled by them. Anakin Skywalker’s redemption and Luke’s ascension to Jedi Knighthood brought the original and prequel Star Wars trilogies full circle.