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How Albert Einstein Helped Inspire What Star Wars’ Yoda Looked Like
The famous genius scientist was a strong influence when artists were figuring out what a pop culture icon would look like
Yoda is one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars film franchise, which in turn are among the most loved and popular movies in history. The tiny green Jedi master with the distinctive voice and wise sayings has transcended the films to become an instantly recognizable figure in popular culture, even by those who may not be familiar with the movies. Despite his unique look, the fictional character actually had his appearance based in large part on a famous figure from history — none other than legendary physicist and genius Albert Einstein.
Since the first film in the 15-movie franchise debuted in 1977, Star Wars has raked in more than $5 billion in the United States, and a total of $10.3 billion in box office revenue globally, according to The Numbers. In addition to the memorable story lines and sweeping music, the unique characters have contributed to the lasting popularity.
One of the most popular recurring characters has been Yoda. The wizened Jedi master shows wisdom beyond even his nearly 900 years (until he gains immortality) in his instruction of Luke Sykwalker and others to whom he dispenses knowledge. A humanoid alien of a green hue, he first appeared in the 1980 The Empire Strikes Back, and has since been a regularly featured character. Merchandise featuring his likeness runs the gamut and is among the most popular of any on the market to this day, boosted by the recent surge of “Baby Yoda” (a sub-character that first appeared in the Disney Star Wars-spinoff show The Mandalorian) items.
Caitlin Schneider of Mental Floss reported in 2015 that Yoda received strong influence from Einstein, the renowned German-American physicist and overall Brainiac, who passed away in 1955.
The idea to incorporate the visage of Einstein into the wispy green face of Yoda came to Star Wars makeup supervisor Stuart Freeborn because he used to look at a picture of the scientist daily that hung on the wall of his office. The artist also used his own face as an additional influence.
