Alright, it’s long been established that Star Wars actor Mark Hamill is a deadset legend who lucked into the role of a lifetime, but here’s another story to make you gently weep for him, okay?
Yesterday, screenwriter Ed Solomon (he wrote Men In Black, as well as loads of others) began tweeting about why he will “love @HamillHimself forever”.
“When a friend’s son (who was, so tragically, dying from an incurable illness) made a wish: to meet Luke Skywalker, it fell on me – the only person the dad knew who worked in the film business – to make a call,” he tweeted.
“Not knowing Mark, I called his agent and explained that this lovely boy watched Star Wars every day and wanted to meet NOT Mark Hamill, but, rather, the actual CHARACTER that he played (the boy’s own mental state had devolved past the point of being able to grok that Luke was fictional).
“The agent begrudgingly said he’d call Mark, but also said not to get my hopes up. 90 seconds later I got a call from @HamillHimself, who immediately said yes and gave me his home address.
“He not only met with the boy, but spent hours answering question after question (sometimes the same ones repeatedly), AS “Luke”. Even posting this now makes me teary. He was compassionate, kind and patient. And it literally meant the world to this kid and his family.”
Solomon’s friend, a man by the name of Joe Sikorra, told The Hollywood Reporter that his son, John, was diagnosed with the very rare genetic disorder juvenile Batten’s Disease (JNCL) in 1998.
“The disease robs kids of their vision first followed by cognitive motor function,” he said. “Typically kids die in their late teens, early 20s. It is a very complicated disease and most doctors aren’t that familiar with it. So we lived in the moment, did as much as we could.”
John, who was obsessed with Star Wars, watched the original series ever single day.
“Mark spoke to John simply and directly and with utter dignity,” Solomon told THR. “John would ask the same question three times in a row, and Mark would answer the same way every single time.”
“Mark was just super patient and kind,” said Sikorra. “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. So we got into living for the moment. 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.’”
Towards the end of the chat – after Hamill had given John and his brother Ben, who also suffers from the same incurable disease, a bunch of Star Wars merch – Hamill asked if John had any more questions.
“John asks, ‘Can I meet Princess Leia?‘” said Sikorra. “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 [Carrie Fisher] 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?’”
Sadly, John’s condition deteriorated pretty quickly after that, and he wasn’t able to meet Princess Leia. He died on September 24, 2015, at the age of 23.
Solomon said he decided to share the story in the wake of so much bad news about celebrities.
“There has been so much negativity out there these days and every time I see one of my heroes trending, I have to look through my fingers to see what bad thing they might have done,” he said. “And because of The Last Jedi, I have been seeing Mark’s face everywhere and it reminded me.”
In response to Solomon’s original thread on Twitter, Hamill said:
“There’s no sweeter sound than a child laughing – I’ve been so luck – feel it’s my duty to give back in any way I can – much prefer visits to hospitals than talk shows.”
There’s no sweeter sound than a child laughing-I’ve been so lucky-feel it’s my duty 2 give back in any way I can-Much prefer visits 2 hospitals than talk-shows
Heartbreaking but inspirational-makes my career seem trivial in comparison-Wish I could do more❤️ https://t.co/nXXutNfYsa— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) December 5, 2017
To which Solomon replied:
It was not just that you did it – which was lovely. It was the WAY you did it: simple, direct, with absolute dignity and respect for this boy – which was quite beautiful. And, to be honest, profound. We all left better people because of it. https://t.co/VJROzBkiTR
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 5, 2017
You can read his story in full below.
WHY I WILL LOVE @HamillHimself FOREVER (THREAD OF 4):
When a friend’s son (who was, so tragically, dying from an incurable illness) made a wish: to meet Luke Skywalker, it fell on me — the only person the dad knew who worked in the film business — to make a call. 1/4
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 4, 2017
..Luke was fictional). The agent begrudgingly said he’d call Mark, but also said not to get my hopes up. 90 seconds later I got a call from @HamillHimself, who immediately said yes and gave me his home address. 3/4
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 4, 2017
He not only met with the boy, but spent hours answering question after question (sometimes the same ones repeatedly), AS “Luke.” Even posting this now makes me teary. He was compassionate, kind, and patient. And it literally meant the world to this kid and his family. 4/4
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 4, 2017
There’s another chapter to this story. 1/12 https://t.co/jlLFzwoIuA
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 5, 2017
John said “Yes. Can I meet Princess Leia?” @Joesikorra, John’s dad, smiled and subtly waved to Mark “No no, you don’t have to do that!” But Mark said “Can’t hurt to ask.” 4/12
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 5, 2017
I called @carrieffisher and told her about John and his brother, Ben, who was also afflicted with this rare, incurable disease. She became emotional, and spoke about the unfairness of life. 6/12
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 5, 2017
I posted all this because, like many people, I was feeling overwhelmed by seeing hero after hero of mine trending, and then wincing as I peered through my fingers to read something horrible about them. 8/12
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 5, 2017
They have lived with grace and poise in the face of what would be – for any of us – unfathomable pain. They, to me, are living examples of how faith – 10/12
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 5, 2017
Joe has written a book about his family. It comes out in April. If you’re interested in pre-ordering it, here is the link: 12/12 https://t.co/aHXHXF1G8T
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 5, 2017
Oh and I forgot to mention: JOE AND LORI ARE TAKING EXACTLY ZERO MONEY from the sales of this book. They are donating 100% of the profits to https://t.co/J8eLMV7e1H – who are raising $ for other kids afflicted with this horrible disease (Batten Disease).
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) December 5, 2017