C-3PO

Called "Threepio" by his friends, this protocol droid appears in all six episodes of Star Wars. All protocol droids were designed specifically to interact with thinking beings.

Click here to download C-3PO artwork (pdf)

C-3PO was a special protocol droid because he talked a lot and always had an easy-going and fun relationship with Han Solo, Leia Organa and Padmé Amidala, among others.

Some people believe that C-3PO was created by Anakin Skywalker but the truth is different. He was just rebuilt by Anakin (since he had a great ability to fix and create machines), who came upon the discarded and gutted head and chassis of the protocol droid's standard 3PO series.

This happened on Tatooine around 32 years before the Battle of Yavin. The real birth of "Threepio" occurred in 112 BBY, when he was originally activated on the Cybot Galactica foundry world of Affa.

C-3PO helped to explain the traditions of other cultures and did all the translations necessary, as he could speak and understand more than six million languages.

The expanded universe narrates how C-3PO loyally served over 40 masters, apart from Luke and Anakin Skywalker. This list includes Padmé Amidala, Captain Raymus Antilles, the Royal House of Alderaan and Prince Jagoda.

A really funny incident happened when C-3PO met his inseparable partner, droid R2D2. Threepio didn't have his "golden skin" as Anakin couldn't afford the droid coverings. But C-3PO didn't know he was "naked" before R2 pointed it out. And then C-3PO was thoroughly embarrassed.

From this moment on, these two droids together experienced many adventures in the galaxy. They also exemplified a recurring cinematic theme: robots have feelings too (think Artificial Intelligence: AI).

C-3PO was voiced by Anthony Daniels in all six Star Wars films. He was also heard in live-action segments of The Star Wars Holiday Special (a two-hour television special broadcast in 1978 on CBS-TV) and Star Tours, a Disneyland thrill ride.

C-3PO
Homeworld: Tatooine
Species: Droid
Type: Protocol droid
Height: 1.67 metres
Weapon: None
Manufacturer: Anakin Skywalker/Cybot Galactica
Affiliation: Rebel Alliance