Summary
- Star Wars has characters with extremely long lifespans, often due to being Force-sensitive or belonging to other species.
- The oldest characters serve as important links to the galaxy's history and provide opportunities for world-building and expanding lore.
- Characters like Yoda, Maz Kanata, and Jabba the Hutt have lived for centuries and have played significant roles in shaping the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars is full of beings who have lived longer than anyone else, with 10 characters being the oldest in the franchise. The Empire Strikes Back first highlighted this trend by introducing Yoda, and other Star Wars characters like Huyang joined the ranks as their exact ages were confirmed. While some characters' life spans were confirmed right away on-screen, others were revealed later behind the scenes, and some characters' ages came as a surprise. Human life spans may be relatively short, even in the Star Wars galaxy, but other species, droids, and powerful Force users have a much longer lifespan.
The oldest Star Wars characters are important because they're a window into the galaxy's past, providing new bits of world-building or teasing lore that can be expanded in future stories. This allows some characters to serve as connective tissue across the entire franchise, binding different stories together and creating a satisfying long-term character arc. Most of these characters can appear in stories set in the past, but some of them could even appear in Star Wars' far future, opening more story possibilities for the franchise. Here are the 10 oldest characters in the Star Wars universe.
10 The Father, the Daughter, and the Son (Eons Before The Clone Wars)
The Force wielders known as the Father, the Daughter, and the Son are very likely the oldest characters in the Star Wars universe, especially since they were considered "Force gods." They first appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 3, episodes 15 - 17, collectively known as the "Mortis Trilogy," residing in the ethereal realm of Mortis outside the known galaxy. Since they were described as having been around for eons and represented aspects of the Force itself, then they're almost certainly the oldest beings in Star Wars. While each of them met their end on Mortis, their legend would live on long after the Clone Wars.
9 Bendu (Ancient Times)
Much like the Father, the Bendu was an ancient being who claimed to be the balance between the dark and light sides of the Force. He told Kanan Jarrus that he'd been around long before him and would still be around long after, implying just how long he had been alive. Bendu's long life afforded him a great deal of wisdom, but this long-term perspective led to him refusing to take sides, angered when the war between the Empire and the rebels came to his planet. In addition to his long life, Bendu could see into the future as well, warning Grand Admiral Thrawn of his defeat before mysteriously disappearing.
8 Huyang (Powered Up C. 25,020 BBY)
Huyang is the Star Wars galaxy's oldest character with a definitive timeline, and he's estimated to have been created around 25,020 BBY, five years after the Jedi Order was founded. This was revealed in Star Wars: Timelines, which means that until more concrete dates are provided for the Force gods of Mortis and the Bendu, Huyang is the oldest confirmed character in Star Wars. It also means he's been around since the very beginning of the Jedi Order, seeing how they evolved and what secrets they left behind. With his upcoming appearance in the Ahsoka TV series, there's no telling what may be revealed about Huyang's long, long life.
7 Maz Kanata (1,008 Years Old)
While nowhere near as old as Huyang, Maz Kanata was 1,008 years old by the time of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. She was born in 973 BBY and took control of a castle on Takodana 100 years later, turning it into a refuge for scoundrels. Maz witnessed many evils throughout her long life, including the Sith, the Empire, and finally the First Order. However, unlike Bendu, her long life taught her that evil needed to be faced and defeated in every era, no matter what form it took. Though she herself was not a Jedi, she was Force-sensitive, which allowed her to guide Rey on her journey.
6 Yoda (900 Years Old)
The one most Star Wars fans think of when it comes to old characters, Yoda lived to be 900 years old before his death in Return of the Jedi. He was born in 896 BBY and began training Jedi when he was about 100 years old, eventually becoming Grand Master of the Jedi Order. Yoda led the order through its darkest times, and this allowed him to master emotional detachment more than any Jedi, having seen countless friends come and go over the years. Yoda died of old age in 4 ABY, but he would return as a Force ghost to guide Luke Skywalker and stand with Rey against Palpatine.
5 Jabba The Hutt (604 Years Old)
Jabba Desilijic Tiure was born in 600 BBY, making him 604 years old at the time of his death in Return of the Jedi. He became the reigning crime lord in the Outer Rim centuries before the Galactic Civil War, eventually working his way onto the Grand Hutt Council. Jabba continued to operate during the High Republic era, growing his criminal enterprises and coming into conflict with the Jedi on more than one occasion. However, the Jedi convinced Jabba to ally with the Republic during the Clone Wars, subsequently making him an ally of the Empire. Jabba was later killed by Leia Organa, leaving his criminal empire up for grabs.
4 Yaddle (477 Years Old)
As a member of Yoda's species, Yaddle also had a centuries-long lifespan, living to be 477 years old. She was born in 509 BBY, shortly before the start of the High Republic era, and later joined the Jedi High Council. Yaddle also took charge of training Jedi Initiates during this time, and over the years befriended many younglings, including Dooku, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. While Yoda and other council members doubted Qui-Gon's claim about the return of the Sith, Yaddle believed him and decided to leave the council after the Battle of Naboo. She then discovered Dooku's allegiance to Darth Sidious and was cut down by her old friend.
3 Yarael Poof (The High Republic Era)
Although Yarael Poof's exact age has not been confirmed, he was a member of the Jedi High Council by 232 BBY, where he continued to serve until 22 BBY. This means Yarael Poof is at least 210 years old, though his acceptance to the Jedi Council would place him closer to 300. However, with how long other council members were alive, it's possible that Yarael Poof could be much older than that. Yarael Poof remained on the Jedi Council until he was killed on a mission shortly before the start of the Clone Wars.
2 Oppo Rancisis (The High Republic Era)
Oppo Rancisis' age also has yet to be revealed, especially since his death hasn't been confirmed either. He was one of the few Jedi to survive the Jedi purge, and no Star Wars story has shown in death in canon, meaning there's a slim possibility that he could be one of the Jedi who lived past Return of the Jedi. What is known of Oppo Rancisis is that he was born to the Thisspiasian Blood Monarchy, but he was still taken to the Jedi Order as Master Yaddle's Padawan. Oppo Rancisis became a member of the Jedi High Council by 232 BBY, where he remained a member until Order 66.
1 Dexter Jettster (Exact Age Unknown)
Introduced in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones as one of Obi-Wan Kenobi's informants, Dexter Jettster has recently been revealed to have a long history in the Star Wars galaxy. He was working as one of Maz Kanata's pirate band during the High Republic Era, hundreds of years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - and in fact was her lover. From A Certain Point Of View: Return of the Jedi revealed he lived on beyond the Star Wars original trilogy, ultimately inspired by Obi-Wan Kenobi's example to oppose the Empire.