Not everybody in the galaxy far, far away can be as beautiful as Padmé Amidala or drop-dead gorgeous as Han Solo. In fact, the Star Wars universe is also inhibited by many beings who are downright ugly, with grotesque features and unsettling appearances. But this diversity of the various species and characters is exactly what makes Star Wars so great. From Watto to Jabba the Hutt, in this list, I count down the 16 best Ugly Star Wars characters to ever grace the screens.
16. Dr. Cornelius Evazan
Best known for his appearance in the original Star Wars movie, later titled “A New Hope”, Dr. Cornelius Evazan is a wanted criminal who is seen in the Mos Eisley Cantina on the planet Tatooine. He is accompanied by his associate, Ponda Baba, who is also on this list of ugly Star Wars characters. Evazan himself is also depicted as somewhat disfigured, with a large, lumpy, and scarred face. The reason for Evazan’s disfigurement is never explicitly explained in Star Wars movies or other media. However, it has been suggested that he may have undergone extensive cosmetic surgery to evade the authorities and change his appearance. Another possible explanation is that his appearance is a result of an accident or injury, similar to the disfigurement of other Star Wars characters like Darth Vader and Palpatine. Overall, while Evazan’s exact backstory and motivations are not explored in great detail in the Star Wars franchise, he remains a memorable character for his unique appearance and brief, but memorable, interaction with Luke Skywalker in the cantina scene.
15. Bossk
An infamous Trandoshan bounty hunter, Bossk is known for his skill in hunting Wookiees, and is often seen working alongside other bounty hunters such as Boba Fett. Trandoshans are a species of reptilians with scaly skin, sharp claws, and a distinctive toothy snout. Bossk is a large and imposing figure, with yellow eyes and distinctive head frills. First introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, Bossk was part of a group of bounty hunters summoned by Darth Vader to his Star Destroyer as part of his efforts to locate and capture the Millennium Falcon.
14. Admiral Ackbar
One of the best Star Wars ugly characters, Gial Ackbaris the proof that you can be on the side of good, but still be very ugly. Best known for his iconic line, “It’s a trap!” in the 1983 film Return of the Jedi, Admiral Ackbar is a member of the Mon Calamari species, a humanoid aquatic species known for their large, bulbous eyes and fish-like appearance. His skin is mottled brown and green, and he has large, protruding eyes with deep wrinkles around them. He also has a wide, fish-like mouth with fleshy tentacles around the edges. However, Admiral Ackbar is beloved by many fans for his intelligence, bravery, and leadership.
13. Watto
First appearing in The Phantom Menace, Watto is a junk dealer who owned Anakin Skywalker and his mother Shmi. He is a member of the Toydarian species, which has a humanoid body with wings and a long snout. Some people might consider Watto to be ugly due to his unique appearance. He has a hunched posture, a wrinkled face, and large, pointed ears. Although a heavy gambler and a not particularly kind person, Watto sometimes showed flashes of compassion toward Anakin.
12. Ubbla Mollbro
A lively Xi’Dec opera singer, Ubbla Mollbro first appeared in Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi. In a scene in the Canto Bight Casino on planet Cantonicam she searches for a suitable hatching partner. Without a partner, the egg sacs covering her body grew to a puffy size. However, while brushing up against the casino’s elite, she was interrupted by a stampede of fathers. Although one of the ugly Star Wars characters, Ubbla Mollbro does have a unique sense of style!
11. Ponda Baba
Best known for his appearance in A New Hope, Ponda Baba is a tough Aqualish who confronts Luke in the Cantina scene. He is the alien who is famously told by Obi-Wan Kenobi, “I have the death sentence on twelve systems” before Obi-Wan uses his lightsaber to slice off Ponda Baba’s arm. Ponda Baba has a broad, flat nose, sharp teeth, and a pronounced overbite. In addition, he has a somewhat brutish and menacing appearance, with a hulking build and a perpetually scowling expression.
10. Kuiil
First appearing in The Mandalorian, Kuiil is a Ugnaught, a species known for its small stature and porcine features. While he is a good person, Kuiil is not exactly conventionally attractive by human standards. He has a stocky build, prominent snout, and large dog eyes, which are typical features of the Ugnaught species. Kuiil is introduced as a skilled and wise laborer who lives on the planet Arvala-7, where Mando seeks his assistance. Kuiil agrees to help the Mandalorian and becomes a mentor and ally to him as the series progresses. The Ugnaught stands out as a character in his distinctive way of speaking, which includes a measured tone and an emphasis on honor. He is also known for his expertise in repairing machinery and his skills as a tracker and guide. He is also responsible for the “I have Spoken” memorable catchphrase.
9. Bargwill Tomder
Leader of the father stables at the Canto Bight Racetrack, Bargwill Tomder is the kind of person who is mean to children. He took pleasure in punishing child slaves that served under him in the stables, using his electro-shock whip on them. Just as ugly on the inside, as he is on the outside, Bargwill Tomder is a crooked Cloddogran who is also willing to fix races.
8. Sy Snootles
A female Pa’lowick singer, Sy Snootles is the lead vocalist for the Max Rebo Band, a musical group. Sy Snootles is often depicted as being bizarre-looking, with a long, thin snout, large eyes, and a mouth full of sharp teeth. It is worth noting that the character design for Sy Snootles changed significantly between the original releases of “Return of the Jedi” in 1983 and subsequent re-releases and special editions of the film. In the original version, Snootles was a puppet operated by a team of puppeteers, while in later versions, her character was digitally enhanced and her design was modified to look more realistic.
7. Figrin D’an And The Modal Nodes
Figrin D’an is best known as the leader of the Modal Nodes, the band that performs in the Mos Eisley Cantina. He is a Bith, a species of alien known for his highly advanced musical abilities. Biths have large, bald heads with bulging, black eyes and small mouths. Their skin is usually gray, and they have four-fingered hands with suction cups on the tips of their fingers.
6. Poggle the Lesser
A member of the Geonosian species, Poggle the Lesser is the public leader of the Geonosians. Geonosians are insectoid species, and their appearance is characterized by their exoskeletons, elongated limbs, and multiple eyes. Poggle the Lesser, in particular, has a distinctive appearance with a large head, bulging eyes, a sharp-toothed mouth, and a hunched posture. Poggle’s appearance was likely designed to reflect his role as a villainous character in the Star Wars saga, rather than to conform to any particular aesthetic standard. Having said that, he IS one of the best ugly Star Wars characters ever!
5 Darth Vader
Indeed. Darth Vader is most iconic with his helmet on. However, this famous image from Return of the Jedi reveals how burned up Anakin Skywalker looks beneath the helmet. In that film, there is a scene in which Vader’s helmet is briefly removed, revealing his scarred and disfigured face. When Anakin’s body was set on fire after his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar, he was severely burned. Some of his scars healed over the years, but he still has serious facial deformities.
4. Dexter Jettster
A friend of the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, Dexter Jettster is a Star Wars creature known as Besalisk, a four-armed species. He runs a diner and is known to have a vast knowledge of the galaxy, including its species. In Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan goes to Dexter’s diner seeking information on a poison dart he found. His meeting with Dexter leads him on a mission to uncover a separatist plot against the Galactic Republic. Dexter has a distinctive appearance due to being a Besalisk, with his four arms, wide snout, and reptilian skin. Dexter is known for his friendly nature and he is a skilled chef. So, if you happen to be on Coruscant, you should check his place out.
3. Snoke
Supreme Leader Snoke is a Force-sensitive alien who serves as the leader of the First Order, the military junta that rose to power following the fall of the Galactic Empire. Snoke is depicted as having a severely scarred and disfigured face, with a large head and sunken eyes. The reason for his disfigurement is not fully explained, but it is suggested that he suffered significant physical injuries at some point in his past. So, in the case of Snoke, his disfigurement is a part of his character and yet unknown backstory.
2. Emperor Palapatine
Palpatine, also known as Darth Sidious, is a powerful Sith Lord. He was initially introduced as a senator from the planet Naboo, but he was secretly a Sith Lord who manipulated events to rise to power and become the Emperor of the Galactic Empire. He trained Darth Vader, the iconic black-clad villain, and was responsible for the destruction of the Jedi Order. In the original trilogy, Palpatine’s disfigurement was not explained. However, it was later revealed that he was deformed as a result of a confrontation with Jedi Master Mace Windu. During the battle, Palpatine was hit with a blast of Force lightning, which reflected on him due to Windu’s use of a lightsaber. The lightning damaged Palpatine’s face and body, resulting in his disfigurement. Later, in the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, it is revealed that Palpatine survived his apparent death in Return of the Jedi and was kept alive through dark side magic and cloning technology.
1. Jabba The Hutt
Jabba is a large, slug-like alien crime lord who appears in several films and television series, most prominently in the third film of the original Star Wars trilogy, “Return of the Jedi.” His appearance is often described as “ugly” or grotesque, with a bloated, bulbous body and a wrinkled, slimy texture. However, his appearance is a result of his species and is not necessarily considered unattractive within the context of his race. Jabba is a powerful and ruthless criminal who controls a vast criminal empire. He is known for his love of luxury and his tendency to surround himself with scantily clad alien dancers and entertainers. The reason for Jabba’s unusual appearance is not explicitly explained in Star Wars films or other media. However, it has been suggested that his body shape and texture are adaptations to his native environment, which is believed to be the desert planet of Tatooine. His slow-moving, slug-like body shape is thought to have evolved as an adaptation to the harsh conditions of the planet, allowing him to conserve energy and avoid overheating.
That’s it for this list, hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. And remember – Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder!
