Local look-alike and celebrity impersonator, Fluke Skywalker, shares how he got started.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU LOOKED LIKE MARK HAMILL?
Around 2016 I had surgery and lost about 90 pounds. I still had short hair and no beard. I went to Lowe’s and a guy said, “hey man, did anyone ever tell you that you look just like Mark Hamill?” I didn’t think twice about it. Shortly after that, we went to see The Last Jedi, and when we walked into the movie theater, someone yelled, “Hey, Luke Skywalker!” And it just went from there.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS FLUKE SKYWALKER?
After getting noticed in public, I grew out my hair and beard, and decided to get the full Luke Skywalker costume, complete with lightsaber. My family and I had volunteered at Ronald McDonald House for about 10 years, and I thought it would be nice to go back at Christmas and take Star Wars toys. It was a big hit. We’ve taken thousands of dollars’ worth of toys up there for the kids. They really like to whack each other with lightsabers. When I see the parents, they’re just smiling, and not thinking about the bills, cancer and all the other horrible stuff that’s happening. They’re just in the moment watching their little kids laugh and play, and you can’t buy that feeling.
WHAT CHARITIES DO YOU WORK WITH?
In addition to Ronald McDonald House, I’ve raised money for the Dragonfly Foundation, Miracle Babies, Make-A-Wish Foundation, 4 Paws for Ability, and others. I usually do an event about once a month. We also have a backdrop of Luke’s house on Tatooine and Fluke shows up for virtual birthday parties or other online events. It’s all for charity—I don’t take any money. All I ask is the host shows me a receipt that they donated money, and I’ll be there.
TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS AS FLUKE SKYWALKER.
I met a boy named Ricky a couple of years ago who had some heart issues and used a wheelchair. I got to know the family and learned their van was broken so he couldn’t go out into the community. I worked on cars, so I thought I’d take look. The whole van needed to be replaced, but it would cost $30,000. They had raised two-thirds of the money for a replacement but needed help with the last $10,000. So I reached out to some friends, and we held a fundraiser at a Cincinnati Reds bobblehead night. I was interviewed in character on local TV and we were able to raise the money so the family could get a new accessible van.
Another memorable moment was at Comic-Con in 2019. My daughter and I went as her graduation present, and we were taking pictures by the Star Wars sign. Someone in a Darth Vader costume walks up and wanted a picture. Then a Princess Leia comes up and asks if she can get in—like a family picture—and then the crowd starts to get bigger and bigger. Everybody had a lot of love in their hearts. The crowd grew to a few hundred people and started blocking doors. Eventually, a woman swept me up on stage and said, “OK, Mr. Hamill, here’s what we’re going to do.” I had to stop and show her that I was not Mark Hamill and actually from Cincinnati. It was really fun but it was overwhelming. I’ve never been at the center of a mob of love.
WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OF THE FRANCHISE?
The original Star Wars, which has been renamed to Episode IV – A New Hope. I was 13 years old when I saw it in the movie theater for the first time. I thought it was brilliant, and it was targeted right at me.
See more pictures or learn how to book Fluke Skywalker for your next event at imflukeskywalker.com.
