Bail Organa was a minor supporting character from the Star Wars franchise. Though first alluded to in Episode IV: A New Hope, he made no physical appearance until Episode II: Attack of the Clones. In Star Wars lore, Bail was the Viceroy of Alderaan who represented his world in the Galactic Senate during the waning years of the Republic. Following the rise of the Empire and Anakin Skywalker's fall to the dark side of the Force, he would adopt Padme Amidala's daughter Leia after the Senator died in childbirth.
Bail was portrayed by Jimmy Smits in Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One and the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. He also appeared in a number of episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, in which he was voiced by Phil LaMarr.
History[]
During the twilight years of the Galactic Republic, Bail represented Alderaan in the Galactic Senate. When Chancellor Finnis Valorum was forced to step down following a vote of no-confidence, Bail was among the Senators who were deemed most likely to succeed him, though ultimately it was Sheev Palpatine who would ascend to chancellorship.
During Palpatine's term as Chancellor, Bail stood among the percentage of the Senate that opposed the creation of a Republic military. However, with the continued secession of worlds from the Republic to the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Senate would vote to grant Palpatine emergency powers and the authority to create an army to counter the Separatist threat. Little did anyone know that their beloved Chancellor was playing both sides of the conflict, all as part of a grand scheme to obtain absolute authority and power over the entire galaxy.
As the Clone Wars came to a close, Palpatine issued Order 66 and the Jedi Purge began. After learning that the Jedi Temple had been attacked, Bail arrived at the temple only to be turned away at gunpoint by the clone troopers present. Before leaving, the Senator witnessed a fight between a squad of troopers and a Jedi youngling, who was overwhelmed and killed by the troopers. Certain that the Jedi weren't traitors as the HoloNet was suggesting, Bail left Coruscant aboard the Tantive IV, later rescuing Jedi Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi who had been betrayed by their troops also. Bail took the two Jedi back to Coruscant so they could investigate the Jedi Temple. Meanwhile, the Senator was called to attend a special session of Congress where he witnessed Chancellor Palpatine declare the foundation of the Galactic Empire with himself as Emperor.
Some time later, Senator Amidala was taken to an off-world medical facility where she gave birth to her twin children, Luke and Leia. Sadly, she would die in childbirth. To ensure that the Sith would not find the twins, it was decided that they should be split up. Obi-Wan would take Luke to Tatooine and leave him in the care of his aunt and uncle while Bail opted to adopt Leia himself.
Over the years, Bail and his wife Breha would lovingly care for Leia. In time, Leia would join her father in representing Alderaan in the Imperial Senate, though neither ever held any loyalty to the Emperor and both were instrumental in organizing a rebellion against the Empire, becoming founding members of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.
Death[]
Bail meets his demise in Episode IV: A New Hope, despite not appearing in the film itself. He dies along with the population of his home planet when Alderaan is destroyed by the Death Star's superlaser.