Just like his big-screen counterpart, Star Wars icon Mark Hamill has always been one for the Light SIde.
Earlier this week, screenwriter Ed Solomon (
Men in Black;
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure;
Mosaic) shared a heartwarming story about a time, several years ago, when Hamill went out of his way to visit a terminatlly ill child whose only wish was to meet his hero, the one-and-only Luke Skywalker.
Around eight years ago, Joe Sikorra, whose son, John, was tragically dying of juvenile Batten's Disease (JNCL) reached out to his friend, Solomon, who was his only connection to Hollywood, and kindly requested if he might have any way to get in touch with Hamill. Even though Solomon knew it was probably a long shot, he still reached out to Hamill's agent and tried his luck. Less than two minutes later, he gets a call from Hamill himself. In a new interview with
The Hollywood Reporter, Solomon details the experience, "
I had never met Mark, but I called his agent and asked if this could happen. Mark's agent said, 'Please don't say anything to the boy because I don't want to get his hopes up.' And then, literally less than two minutes later, Mark calls and said, 'I would love to. How about tomorrow?' I started bawling."
The following day Solomon, Sikorra, and Sikorra's two sons met up with Hamill and because of John's mental state, which saw his short-term memory in flux, he was unable to differentiate between Hamill the actor and Luke Skywalker the character. Hamill, a true professional, took this in stride and answered all of the boy's questions as Luke Skywalker. "
Mark spoke to John simply and directly and with utter dignity, John would ask the same question three times in a row, and Mark would answer the same way every single time." Sikorra continues, "
Mark was just super patient and kind. It was was one of those beautiful experiences. It is very humbling, this disease. You have got to let go of your normal expectations for you and your kids and family. In the midst of struggle and tragedy, it was those points of connection that makes you feel loved and less isolated. Mark was very kind, 'no rush, my time is your time.'"
The story, however, doesn't end there as John's final question involved another
Star Wars icon, Sikorra remembers, "
So, Mark says are there any final questions, and John asks, 'Can I meet Princess Leia?' And Joe and I looked at each other and winced, and I remember Joe waving his arms to Mark, like you don't have to do this. And Mark said, 'I'll ask.' And Mark called me later that day and said 'Princess Leia would be happy to meet John.' I told her about the family. She got very emotional about the unfairness of things in life. And she said 'I only have two questions: Where and when?' Unfortunately, John's situation started to deteriorate pretty quick after that, so we couldn't met up with Carrie. But Carrie had agreed to do it and that came through Mark."
John Sikorra sadly passed away on September 24, 2015 at the age of 23.
Joe expresses his graditude to Hamill and says that meeting with him will remain a day his family will always cherish. "
It was one of those very touching, moving things, and in that moment, it raised John up and made him feel good and important and loved."
Read Solomon's string of tweets, along with Hamill's response, below:
In Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi features:
Director: Rian Johnson
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa
Adam Driver as Kylo Ren
Daisy Ridley as Rey
John Boyega as Finn
Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron
Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata
Domhnall Gleeson as Hux
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
Gwendoline Christie as Phasma
Andy Serkis as Snoke
Benicio Del Toro as DJ
Laura Dern as Amilyn Holdo
Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico
Billie Lourd as Kaydel Ko Connix
Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca
Mike Quinn as Nien Nunb
Timothy M. Rose as Gial Ackbar
Jimmy Vee as R2-D2
Simon Pegg as Unkar Plutt
Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca Double
Gareth Edwards in an undisclosed role
Warwick Davis in an undisclosed role
Amanda Lawrence in an undisclosed role
Veronica Ngo as Paige Tico
Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters December 15