Sir Alec Guinness earned about $17 million for playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original trilogy. Before Guinness passed away in 2000 due to liver cancer, Star Wars had grossed $775 million worldwide. He retained his merchandising rights and received only 2% of the overall revenue. In addition, he declined a pay bump, opting instead for a deal that gave him 2% of the overall royalties.

Sir Alec Guinness played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original trilogy

The British actor Sir Alec Guinness was a reluctant Star Wars star. He was initially dismissive of George Lucas’s plans, and later became bitter and resentful of the series. The actor refused to accept a pay cut of 2.25%, which he argued was too low. Eventually, he changed his tune and agreed to a two percent cut of all unnamed sequels.

The British actor was awarded a Special Academy Award for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars films, as well as an honorary knighthood. He also received an Academy Honorary Award in 1980 for his portrayal of Adolf Hitler in the 1973 movie, Hitler: The Last Ten Days. He also had prominent roles in the films Lawrence of Arabia and Great Expectations, and played Colonel Jock Sinclair in ‘Tunes of Glory’.

He retained merchandising and sequel rights

Despite his distaste for the Star Wars concept, Alec Guinness still received a substantial portion of the film’s royalties. In exchange for his work on the first film, he agreed to take a five-percent royalty on all sequels. The new deal made Guinness one of the highest-paid actors in history. It also exempted him from the public relations nightmare that followed the release of the original film.

Despite the fact that he was dissatisfied with the merchandising possibilities, Guinness agreed to remain involved with the sequels and merchandising despite the negative reaction from some fans. Moreover, Lucas wanted a director who could have more creative control. Unlike Disney, Guinness resisted merchandising rights and instead agreed to accept less money for the sequels.

He declined a pay bump

How much money did Alec Guinness make from Star Wars? He made more than any other movie he’d ever done, and the money from the franchise exceeded even the highest paycheck for Robert Downey Jr. The deal was so lucrative that the Irish actor was exempted from any publicity after the film’s release. Although he’d never considered doing it, Guinness took the role for its enviable potential, and he ended up earning more money than ever before.

The role of Obi-Wan Kenobi earned Guinness over $3.3 million, but he’s not the only one to benefit from this lucrative deal. His previous roles in Dangerous Minds and The Darth Vader films earned him a combined $45 million. His salary for The Force Awakens is even higher, and his estate continues to earn from the franchise.

He negotiated a deal for 2% of the film’s royalties

During the production of Star Wars, Alec Guinness negotiated a deal for 2% percent of the film’s royalties. Although the deal was a great deal for Guinness, it did not make him rich. The producer, George Lucas, was feeling good about the success of the film and decided that Guinness deserved more money. In exchange, Guinness suggested several script changes and was offered a 2% pay raise. Though it was a good deal for Guinness, he was unhappy with the amount. He refused the offer because of the fame, and because he did not even like the Star Wars franchise.

Guinness’s early career was as an actor. He played the title role of Macbeth at the Royal Court Theatre and served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. During World War II, he commanded landing craft in Sicily and Elba and ferried supplies to Yugoslav partisans. He also appeared in the West End play, Flare Path, about RAF Bomber Command.

He refused a pay bump again in Revenge of the Sith

The arctic ice is one of the most breathtaking and beautiful parts of the Hardangerjokulen glacier. The Hardangerjokulen icecap has been a popular tourist spot for many years, and it is even more stunning now, thanks to the massive glacier. But this spectacular natural beauty is not the only thing to enjoy about this movie. In addition to its stunning ice field, the film also has the biggest explosions of action in the franchise.

When Guinness first appeared in the Star Wars franchise, he was already a respected actor. His presence onscreen added a sense of significance to the sci-fi movie. After all, Guinness had originated the role of the Jedi Knight. And while it was no small role for him, his likability made him a valuable addition to the film.