Bail Organa

His Royal Highness, Prince Bail Prestor Organa of Alderaan (69 BBY - 0 ABY) is a fictional character from the Star Wars universe, the Viceroy and Prince of Alderaan, the husband of Queen Breha Organa, and a noted statesman of the late Republic and early Imperial eras. He is Princess Leia Organa's adoptive father and a friend of Obi-Wan Kenobi. In the films, Bail Organa is played by Jimmy Smits.

History

Bail was a powerful member of the Galactic Senate and for a time was the only member of the Imperial Senate to understand that the Empire and its self-appointed leader, Palpatine, was evil. He realized this after witnessing the slaughter of a young Jedi padawan by clone troopers outside the Jedi Temple at the start of the Great Jedi Purge.

Organa has been mentioned in the Expanded Universe many times, but he remained unseen until Attack of the Clones. Bail Organa was killed when the first Death Star destroyed Alderaan in 0 BBY. (See A New Hope.)

Debate

Many fans have noticed that in Episode I, Captain Panaka mentioned a Bail Antilles as the representative from Alderaan, thus raising confusion among fans as to whether or not this is supposed to be the same character as Bail Organa, although "Bail" could be a common Alderaanian name.

The official site clarifies this issue somewhat, stating that Bail Antilles and Bail Organa were both slated to appear in The Phantom Menace, but Organa's footage was excised. In the screenplay, Bail Organa seconds the motion of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum's leadership, and Bail Antilles is nominated to succeed as Chancellor. Both were intended as two separate characters. Nevertheless, because his scene was cut, Bail Organa was recast for Attack of the Clones, portrayed by Jimmy Smits in both that film and Revenge of the Sith.

The Expanded Universe used the appearance of the actor who played Organa in the cut scene, Adrian Dunbar, to represent Bail Antilles, thus perpetuating the confusion between the characters in the eyes of many fans.

However, it is believed that Bail Antilles resigned his post as Senator after losing the election to Palpatine. Bail Organa replaced Antilles in the Senate, and remained the Senator for Alderaan until his adopted daughter, Leia, took over one year before the Battle of Yavin.

Captain Raymus Antilles is Senator Bail Organa's chief of Security during the collapse of the Galactic Republic.

External links

starwars.com - Bail Organa's databank at the Official Site
Holonet News - Bail Organa and Bail Antilles attend the retirement of fellow Senator Horox Ryder

Star Wars Old Republic characters | Rebel Alliance and New Republic characters | Fictional politicians | Star Wars Organa family | Fictional royalty

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History

Debate

See also

External links