Even if George Lucas hasn’t outwardly expressed a hatred of glasses-wearing characters in “Star Wars,” there is an undeniable rarity to seeing such accessories. But long before Disney acquired the franchise in 2012, a handful of heroes and heroines donned their own pair of spectacles.
A number of characters in non-canon “Star Wars” Legends comics, cartoons, games, and other media can be seen wearing glasses. This includes several pilots from “Star Wars” spinoff comics, Vago the Hutt in the novel “Tempest Feud,” and even C-3PO put on a pair to disguise himself in an episode of the animated series “Droids.”
As far as live-action appearances, two notable names stand out. First, and the closest to being canon, is Saun Dann (Art Carney), the lovable trader and friend of the Wookies from “The Star Wars: Holiday Special.” While the canonization of the infamous 1978 television special is a bit complicated, Dann can nevertheless be seen wearing glasses during an Imperial inspection. Another television movie that included a glass-wearing hero was 1985’s “Ewoks: The Battle for Endor,” which introduced audiences to the kindly hermit Noa Briqualon (Wilford Brimley). Briqualon was specifically conjured up by George Lucas, who wanted the film’s young protagonist to befriend a grumpy old man, likely meaning he approved of the character to have glasses.
So there you have it. Saying that “Star Wars” characters have been without glasses before Disney is not entirely accurate. And in any case, these spectacles have done little to put a dent in the overall spectacle of this beloved franchise.
